Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

The human rights commitee of Azerbaijan's parliament on Wednesday discussed addenda and amendments to the law on religious faith.

The new amendments concern religious literature, audio and video materials, and religious information.

According to the amendments, citizens and religious organizations can obtain and use religious materials that have control labels placed by executive authorities.

Religious organizations, non-religious physical and legal entities can produce, import and export these materials after getting permission from executive authorities and independently disseminate them after they are labeled with control labels.

The labeled religious materials can be sold only in special places established with the permission of executive authorities.

But the main problem is that such materials generally are spread by new communication technologies and via the Internet.

According to the law on religious faith adopted in 1992, everyone has the right to believe in any religion, to express and spread his or her opinion about religion. All religions and religious associations are equal in Azerbaijan.

However, it is forbidden by the law to propogate and spread religious ideas related to racial, ethnic, religious and social hostility that contradict the principles of humanism. The law also bans religious propaganda by foreigners in Azerbaijan.

Chair of the Azerbaijani parliament's Human Rights Commitee Rabiyyat Aslanova says that these issues are the subject of security of the state. According to her, it is important to have control over religious literature.

Aslanova earlier said that selling of Holy Quran in subway stations and streets is disrespect to religion. Selling of the Quran in such places is unacceptable. It is vital to control the selling of the Quran.

Chairman of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations Elshad Iskandarov earlier said that registration of stores selling religious literature is underway. According to him, 25 stores have received permission for sale of religious literature so far.

One of the important issues is the conditions of sale in such stores. Stores selling religious literature must be clean and attractive. Another issue is the books which reflect reality and do not damage the interests of citizens and the state.

Tolerance in Azerbaijan

Religion is a sensitive issue; state control over religious literature, materials and bookstores is vital for the provision of state security and unity of the nation.

The establishment of dialogue between religions is important for any state. The provision of religious tolerance is a key issue in addressing moral problems in society.

Peaceful coexistence of a number of religious confessions in Azerbaijan is a unique example of tolerance in the world and is frequently applauded in the reports of influential organizations.