‘Azerbaijan’s tolerance is a model for other countries’

Baku, January 26, AZERTAC “Azerbaijan’s tolerance is a model for other countries,” said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, as he met with chairman of Azerbaijan`s State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations Mubariz Gurbanli. Cooper said he for the first time visited Azerbaijan back in 1972 when the country was part of the Soviet Union, adding already then the Jewish were peacefully living in the country. His second visit took place in 2010 when Azerbaijan already regained its independence. “Since then the country has experienced dynamic progress.” Cooper hailed independent activities of religious communities in Azerbaijan. Noting the country`s geopolitically unique location, he said “people of various religious and cultural backgrounds are freely living here, enjoying equal rights”. Gurbanli highlighted democratic reforms carried out in Azerbaijan, and the government`s work to strengthen the protection of human rights. He said Azerbaijan has historically been a land of tolerance, where “representatives of various religions have lived and freely practiced their religious rituals in mosques, churches and synagogues”.