Azerbaijan, Baku, May 26 / Trend , K. Zarbaliyeva/
Azerbaijani State Committee for Religious Associations says the so-called Abu Bakr mosque in Baku will re-open.
"The mosque was closed after an act of terrorism. The activities of the mosque are not discussed any more. The investigation is going on. The mosque will re-open sooner or later. But it must act under law," state committee Deputy Chairman Elchin Asgarov said.
Two unknown men threw hand-made grenade to the Abu Bakr mosque located on Ulvi Bunyadzade St. in Baku on August 17, 2008. The explosion killed two and wounded 19. The mosque was closed for the time being. Sumgayit resident Elnur Bakhshiyev has been detained as a suspect.
In late October, Narimanov District Court issued a decision to re-open the mosque. But later the decision was changed at the suit of the Narimanov Police Office due to danger of provocation.
Later Narimanov District Court decided to close the mosque. The religious men from the Narimanov district appealed against the decision. The Supreme Court will examine the appeal on May 27.
Asgarov said there is no trend of closing mosques in Azerbaijan.
"Just the closure of some mosques coincided. Mosques were closed for various reasons. For example, there are no official orders to demolish the mosque in Oil Rocks. Mosque could subside because of the fact that sea water washed away its foundation and it was already demolished. The SOCAR said that the mosque will be restored and all conditions will be created for religious men. The documents of mosque knocked down in the Yasamal district originally were not in order. The local administrative body raised the issue of demolition of the mosque and the court decided to knock down the mosque. There are also reports about the closure of "Ilahiyyat" mosque, but it has not been closed. Rector of Baku State University believes that the mosque hinders the work of the university. However, the demolition of the mosque is not on the agenda," his said. He said that the mosque "Shehidler" will also re-open.
There are 1,750 mosques in Azerbaijan. Only 1,000 of them are functioning, Asgarov said.
"If it had been of a massive nature, the mosques would have been knocked down in other places as well," he said.
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