Elchin Askerov: "Mosque is a site of praying to God and if someone, attending the Mosque, tries to use religion not for godly deeds, he should be either expelled from the Mosque or punished"

"Mosque is a site for praying to God and if someone, attending the Mosque, tries to use religion not for godly deeds, he should be either expelled from the Mosque or punished", said Elchin Askerov, deputy chairman of the State Committee for work with religious formations.

Asked about the reason the Abu Bekir mosque continued to function though court instances and state structure had repeatedly voiced discontent with the activity of the mosque, accusing it of support of radical Islam, especially, vahhabism, he said: "The whole community of the Mosque can not be responsible for separate groups, especially, if it tries to separate from them officially", said he adding that those who try to use the mosque not for godly deeds should be expelled from the Mosque or punished. "But the Mosque and its normal attendees are not responsible for it. There are human rights, which we are bound to defend. Let's not forget that the very mosque and its head fell victims of violence and let's wait for the results of the investigation", said Askerov.

He refused to elaborate on the reasons popularity of the Abu Bekir Mosque among the Azerbaijani Muslims, saying only that the analysis of these reasons and decision on the said issue is a competence of the due structures.

He said the mosque community makes approximately 7,000 people.

Asked whether he agrees that the community of the mosque is backed by influential people in the government, he said it does not correspond to the reality.

"Even if some of the influential people sympathize the ideas of this community (which is possible, but is not the fact), the government will never allow them to conceal illegal or antisocial activity of the community", concluded Askerov.

/Day.Az/