Pashazadeh: freedom of conscience does not mean freedom of religion

The head of the Caucasus Muslims Sheikh Pashazadeh believes that his recent statement at a conference was misunderstood. In particular, the Sheikh dropped a phrase: "I do not know what freedom of conscience is."

In an interview with Turan, he noted that in the Soviet Constitution, the term "freedom of conscience" meant "religious freedom." However, the concept of "freedom of conscience" may refer to both believers and unbelievers. At the same time, the concept of "religious freedom" can refer only to the faithful.

"Speaking at a conference on the subject, I had in mind that the term "freedom of conscience" can not mean "religious freedom," said the Sheikh.

In his view, the substitution effect of the terms is sometimes used by "powerful forces" seeking to bring extrinsic issues to religion, such as the issue of same-sex marriages. "It's more a question of freedom of conscience than freedom of religion, because any religion does not recognize same-sex relationships," said the Sheikh. -05B04-