Azerbaijan, Baku, April 1 / Trend , K.Zarbaliyeva/
The Prophet Muhammad Mosque, which was allegedly constructed illegally, is being razed in Baku.
The Yasamal District Administration head and officials arrived at the mosque and knocked down its gates. They also tore down the image of the Koran on the mosque's entrance and the board with its name, Yasamal District Religious Community Chief Mir Valeh Movsumov told Trend on April 1.
On Nov. 28, the Yasamal District Court passed a verdict supporting the Yasamal District Administration's request to raze the Muhammad Prophet Mosque at 190 Murtuza Mukhtarov St.
A non-residential building will be built on the property.
Mosque representatives lodged a complaint with the Baku Appeals Court requesting that the Yasamal District Court's verdict be annulled and a new decision be passed.
It is illegal to raze the mosque before the court's decision has come to power, lawyer Mukhtar Mustafayev told Trend .
"We lodged an appeal against the Yasamal District Court's verdict and our complaint is under examination. It is illegal to execute the verdict before the Baku Appeals Court has examined our complaint. Also, only the court's officials can implement its verdicts, not district administration officials," Mustafayev said.
The lawyer said Movsumov's claim seeks to annul the Baku City Administration's and Yasamal District Administration's decision to raze the mosque.
"As the Yasamal District Court did not allow us to submit a reciprocal claim, we had to raise the question at the Baku Appeals Court," Mustafayev said.
The Religious Community lodged a cassation appeal with the Supreme Court against the Baku Appeals Court's refusal to execute the complaint.
The Caucasus Muslims Clerical Office does not agree with the decision to raze the mosque.
The representatives appealed to Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis requesting his assistance to prevent the mosque from being razed.
In response, Davis said he supports the issue being resolved in line with Azerbaijani legislation.
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