No religion in Azerbaijan should standing against the State and its traditions, the Head of Azerbaijan State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations, Hidayat Orujov, stated on 17 January while presenting a speech in the round table Religion and Human Rights, organized by the Ombudsman Institute of Azerbaijan.
All religions are equal in Azerbaijan and no religion should consider itself as privileged so as to oppose other religions, he said. The Head of the State Committee regretfully stated that amongst the religious communities in Azerbaijan, there are those who have attempted to do just that, before international organizations, saying that as though their rights are violated.
The State implements a tolerant policy with regards to religion. It in favor of respecting the religious rights of all citizens, but no religion should stand against the State, Orujov said.
According to him, at present there are 21 non-Islamic religions that are registered with the State in Azerbaijan and they all function peacefully in the country.