On June 25, the Azerbaijani Cultural Center in Berlin hosted an event titled “Unity in Diversity: Interfaith Resonances in Dialogue,” organized by the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Germany and the State Committee on Affairs with Religious Associations of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The event was attended by Ramin Mammadov, Chairman of the State Committee on Affairs with Religious Associations of the Republic of Azerbaijan; Sabina Aliyeva, Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman); Nasimi Agayev, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Germany; representatives of religious and public organizations in Germany; diplomats; and prominent figures from civil society.

Ambassador Nasimi Agayev emphasized that the primary aim of the event was to promote interfaith dialogue and strengthen mutual understanding and tolerance among people of different cultures and religions. He noted that Azerbaijan’s state policy, successfully preserves ethnic and religious diversity, further consolidating the historical tradition of multiculturalism and tolerance cultivated over centuries.

Ramin Mammadov, Chairman of the State Committee on Affairs with Religious Associations, highlighted that as a secular and multicultural country, Azerbaijan attaches great importance to interfaith dialogue. Under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, the state treats the protection of religious freedoms and the promotion of multicultural values as a cornerstone of both domestic policy and international relations. He added that the state not only ensures religious freedoms and promotes interfaith dialogue but also safeguards the heritage of various confessions. Restoration efforts for religious monuments encompass mosques, churches, synagogues, and sacred sites throughout the country, including significant reconstruction in the liberated territories of Karabakh. Chairman Mammadov also outlined the activities of the State Committee, the Azerbaijan Institute of Theology, and the Foundation for the Promotion of Spiritual Values.

Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Deputy Director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in the United States, praised Azerbaijan as a model country for religious tolerance, noting the commendable freedom of operation enjoyed by religious communities in the country. He emphasized that the high level of religious freedom and the provision of equal conditions for all faiths in Azerbaijan should be highlighted to the international community.

Elnura Azizova, Dean of the Azerbaijan Institute of Theology, addressed the priorities of religious education, emphasizing that the Institute aims to train theologians equipped with accurate religious knowledge, capable of contributing to science through research, and actively engaged in shaping public consciousness on religious matters.

Robert Mobili, Chairman of the Alban-Udi Christian religious community, spoke about the interfaith and intercultural tolerance in Azerbaijan and the Udi people’s preservation of their native language and traditions.

Imams Hafiz Abbasov and Rufat Garayev of the Heydar Mosque highlighted the importance of Islamic unity. They noted that the congregational prayers held at the Heydar Mosque not only serve a model for Azerbaijan but also establish a global precedent. The practice of different sects worshiping together in a single space exemplifies the successful outcomes of Azerbaijan’s state policies on tolerance and multiculturalism.

Zamir Isayev, Chairman of the Sephardic Jewish Religious Community in Baku, and Schneor Segal, Chief Rabbi of the European Jewish Community in Azerbaijan, emphasized that safeguarding diverse cultural and religious heritage remains a key state priority. They noted that Jews in Azerbaijan live in a secure and comfortable environment, free from antisemitism, and participate actively in political, economic, social, and cultural life.

The event concluded with discussions on the presentations, during which participants’ questions were addressed.