Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade: Azerbaijan is restoring religious monuments belonging to all religions
Astana, September 16, AZERTAC
Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade, Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims' Board (CMB), delivered a speech at the Astana Congress and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) Special Session on Safeguarding Religious Sites.
The session was held as part of the 23rd Session of the Secretariat of the Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions held in Kazakhstan’s capital city of Astana.
CMB Chairman Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade emphasized that the Alliance of Civilizations and the Astana Congress have been jointly credited with significant achievements in promoting inter-civilizational dialogue for over two decades. He said that amid in the face of rising xenophobia and hatred, peaceful coexistence, mutual understanding, dialogue between civilizations and religions, and multiculturalism are crucial for peace and addressing global challenges.
Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade underscored that Azerbaijan strongly condemns any manifestations of radicalism and xenophobia under the guise of freedom of speech and religion, especially acts of terrorism and vandalism committed against the holy places, values and attributes of religions, cultural heritage examples and monuments.
The CMB Chairman described the special session as a crucial platform for sharing best practices, and presenting recommendations for protecting religious sites amidst rising intolerance and conflict.
Recalling that Azerbaijan has restored its internationally recognized territorial integrity and sovereignty in line with the UN Charter and Security Council resolutions, Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade noted that today, Azerbaijan is restoring and rebuilding monuments of all religions - mosques and temples - that were destroyed and desecrated as a result of acts of vandalism in the territories liberated from occupation, while remaining faithful to multicultural traditions.
The CMB Chairman expressed his gratitude for the support provided by the UN Alliance of Civilizations over the years to the efforts to restore and protect religious and spiritual heritage in the areas affected by culturicide.
Special correspondent
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