Sheikh: there will not be religious conflict in Azerbaijan

  Second issue of students of  refresher courses, which was attended by Sheikh Pashazade took place today. Addressing the graduates, Sheikh noted the important role  of akhunds and imams, and spiritual leaders of the  mosque attendance. The courses were well organized, the religious leaders teach the use of modern information technologies, said Sheikh. Then he touched the events in Syria and Iraq. Addressing the audience, he expressed concern that  the number of fighters from Azerbaijan increases in these countries; they are fighting on the side of the various forces for such things, and the religious leaders bear responsibility. The reason for this is lack of ideological enlightenment and weak official propaganda, said Sheikh.

Sheikh  expressed particular concern  with increasing  conflicts between Sunnis and Shiites; such things were not observed previously. "Over 30 years of  my spiritual activity, we did not allow such conflicts and will prevent them in the future," promised Pashazade.

Sheikh called on religious leaders to be especially careful during the upcoming Ramadan to promote unity of all Muslims in the country and stop those who are trying to divide Muslims into Sunnis and Shiites.

Sheikh also said that during Ramadan, Sunnis and Shiites will simultaneously open iftar and simultaneously make azan. "We will closely monitor all of this,"  said the sheikh.

In recent times there have been noted several conflicts between believers,  and mainly Salafi (Wahhabi), who call themselves the true Sunnis were involved in them. Groups of Salafis periodically attempt to act as a leading religious forces that displeases the majority of believers. Most of the believers in Azerbaijan are Shia, Sunni minority. -05B-