SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, September 24. The session "Fight against religious radicalism and the media" has been held as part of the seminar "Religious factor in the ideological struggle: expectations from the media" in Shusha, Trend reports.
The session featured a speech by Rector of the Azerbaijan Institute of Theology Agil Shirinov as the moderator.
He emphasized the importance of combating the rise of religious radicalism in online media.
Deputy Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Office, Fuad Nurullayev, highlighted that the media in Azerbaijan are free.
He noted that, as religion is a sensitive issue, there are nuances that should be considered.
"The media should be illuminated from a religious perspective. The religious literacy of journalists will be reflected in the quality of their articles," he said.
Deputy Spokesperson for the Interior Ministry of Azerbaijan Zeyni Huseynov mentioned that attempts to influence Azerbaijan using people’s religious beliefs are addressed within the legal framework.
"Thanks to the important steps taken by the ministry and relevant agencies, stability in religious matters prevails in Azerbaijan. The most effective weapon in combating religious radicalism is education.
Currently, freedom of worship for communities of various religions is ensured, and all conditions for safe worship are provided," he explained.
The official emphasized the importance of teaching religious issues at a scientific and pedagogical level, both in families and educational institutions.
"The role of the media in shaping religious identity is as important as in shaping national identity in society. Therefore, the responsibility for correctly covering such sensitive issues and for forming public oversight lies with the media," Huseynov stressed.
Consultant of the Department of Administrative and Military Normative Acts at the Ministry of Justice Natig Mirzayev said that, according to the state approach, the fight against religious radicalism is conducted at the same level as against terrorism.
"The activities of the media are monitored by government bodies in relation to purely religious extremism. This is because harmful information disseminated in this direction through the media can lead to serious complications.
This may be due to media representatives unintentionally creating conditions for the spread of harmful and targeted information on religious matters. Therefore, educating the media in this area is a positive step," he added.
Mirzayev emphasized that the law on combating religious extremism and radicalism was enacted in 1992 and has since undergone relevant amendments.
The session has continued with discussions and responses to questions.
To note, the first day of the seminar titled "The Role of Religion in Ideological Struggle: Expectations from the Media" in Shusha concluded on September 23.
Leading media outlets of the country, reporters, and public representatives have participated in the seminar.
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The second session of the seminar titled "Fight against religious radicalism and the media" has started in Shusha, Trend reports.
The session moderated by the rector of the Azerbaijan Institute of Theology, Agil Shirinov, will feature speeches by Deputy Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Office, Fuad Nurullayev, Deputy Spokesperson for Interior Ministry, Zeyni Huseynov, and Consultant of the Department of Administrative and Military Normative Acts at the Ministry of Justice, Natig Mirzayev.
The third session, moderated by Deputy Head of the State Committee on Religious Structures, Elshad Miralam, will focus on the topic "The Role of the Media in Religious Education: Key Methods of Propaganda and Influence".
The third session speakers will include Deputy Chairperson of the Azerbaijan Press Council Saadat Mammadova, Dean of the Faculty of Journalism at Baku State University Vugar Zifaroghlu, and Editor of 525th Newspaper Seyfaddin Huseynli.
The two-day seminar will end with a trip to the cities of Khankendi, Khojaly, and Aghdam.
Leading media outlets of the country, reporters, and public representatives have participated in the seminar.
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