Rafael Huseynov raises Iranian Azerbaijanis' problems at PACE Committee

Member of the Azerbaijani parliamentary delegation to PACE Rafael Huseynov, who attended the meeting, told APA that the discussions focused on freedom of expression, respect to freedom of religion as well as expanding teaching of European literature.

Mr.Huseynov said the discussion of this issue related to the freedom of expression and preventing attacks to religious rights becoming topical issue after the known caricature events in Europe and some Eastern countries. Some of the parliamentarians expressed discontent with restricting freedom of expression in media and pointed out possibility of criticizing even the most holy religious figures.

"Addressing the debate, I said that it is unacceptable to insult feelings of millions of people. I told that the border of one freedom ends in the beginning of the border of another one. If freedom of expression restricts the freedom of religion, this border should be restricted immediately," the parliamentarian said.

He also touched on the publication of caricatures insulting Azerbaijanis, who constitute half of the Iranian population, by describing them as cockroach in the Iranian media.

"I told that the entire country was deeply concerned over the arrest of peoples and some journalists and killing and injuring. I brought to attention that respect to national rights should be discussed alongside freedom of expression and freedom of religion," Huseynov said.

The Azerbaijani parliamentarian in his speech stressed the need to common European literature, "It was proposed that prominent European writers hold a meeting in Baku to discuss on determination of conception of that literature. I believe this issue will be considered soon."