Despite their loyalty to their multicultural traditions, the people of Azerbaijan have faced the cruelest manifestations of religious discrimination. 65 out of 67 mosques in our territories occupied by Armenia for nearly 30 years were completely destroyed and 2 were partially destroyed and rendered useless. Many other Islamic monuments were destroyed and obliterated. Among them there are hundreds of mosques, tombs, tombstones, places of faith and other places of worship. 200 cemeteries were completely destroyed, and 600 cemeteries were partially destroyed. The Khojaly cemetery was destroyed by machinery.
Ramin Mammadov, Chairman of the State Committee on Affairs with Religious Associations of the Republic of Azerbaijan, said this at the Shusha meeting of religious leaders within the framework of the 6th Baku World Intercultural Dialogue Forum.
The Chairman of the State Committee said that 500 cemeteries and hundreds of mosques were completely destroyed in the regions where Azerbaijanis lived in the territory of today's Armenia. The people of Azerbaijan continue to maintain religious and ethnic tolerance as an important element of their national identity.
"We are now at such a historical stage that a system of clear, constructive views on the future must be formed in a difficult and contradictory period, when the world order is actually being rebuilt. The most useful way to do this is intercultural and interreligious dialogue. Because there is no alternative to peace, cooperation and coexistence in the current complex system of international relations. "Azerbaijan is ready to contribute to the solution of this global issue in accordance with universal interests," he added. (Azertaj)