“Tolerance is an integral part of the national identity of the Azerbaijani people and a greater legacy than oil”, he said.
Isgandarov noted that Azerbaijan is located on the great Silk Way which transported not only goods but also ideas and this influenced the atmosphere of mutual respect here.
“Great Azerbaijan philosophers and thinkers had a great respect to different religious theses”, the head of the state committee said.
The positions of Sufism, which advocated the ideas of respectful attitude to the followers of all trends of Islam were historically strong in Azerbaijan, Isgandarov continued.
“This promoted a unique atmosphere of multiculturalism and mutual respect between representatives of different religions in Azerbaijan”, Isgandarov said.
Later the head of state accentuated the state of the Jewish community in our country. He pointed that Azerbaijan is the second country after Israel where Jews live most compactly.
“In the beginning of the 20th century, the Jewish community of Azerbaijan was not able to build synagogues in Baku. But owing to one of the Muslim philanthropists, land was purchased and granted to the Jewish community. In the end of the 20th century, another Azerbaijani entrepreneur reconstructed a Christian church in Baku”, Isgandarov said adding that respect towards Christians is also a specific feature of the Azerbaijani people.
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