Gunduz Ismayilov, Deputy Chairman of Azerbaijan's State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations, met with Jason Mclnerney, Deputy to the Ambassador for International Religious Freedoms and Special Assignments of the International Religious Freedom Office (IRFO) of the US State Department.

Speaking about the environment of tolerance and solidarity in our country, Deputy Chairman said that protecting and strengthening this environment, ensuring people's religious freedom and maintaining security of worshippers is one of the state's main tasks. In Azerbaijan comprehensive attention and respect is given to all religious denominations and necessary conditions have been created for those communities that don’t spread spreading harmful religious ideas and do not carry out such activities that could negatively affect interreligious relations. Mr. Ismayilov noted that every year financial assistance is allocated from the state budget to both Islamic and non-Islamic religious communities to support the activities of the existing religious denominations in the country. Mr. Ismayilov also emphasized that nowadays Azerbaijan is the leading state of the region not only due to its socio-economic success and military-political potential but also to the protection of freedom of conscience, multiculturalism and centuries-old traditions of tolerance, as well as in terms of restoration of historical and religious monuments.

During the meeting, Deputy Chairman also touched upon the 2023 report of the US State Department on International Religious Freedoms and pointed out that the realities of Azerbaijan were distorted.

Expressing his gratitude for the detailed information, the guest shared his views on the registration and activity of religious institutions, as well as other relevant issues.

A number of other issues of mutual interest were also discussed during the meeting, which was attended by Sonya Fernandes, Advisor for Eastern and Southern European countries of IRFO, Diana Brown, Advisor on Political Issues of the US Ambassador to Azerbaijan and officials of the State Committee.