French paper calls Azerbaijan tolerant and secular

The France`s South-West newspaper has published an article Secularism Experience narrating on Azerbaijan as a secular and tolerant country.

The article featured an interview with imam of the Bordeaux mosque Tareg Ubru who told of selection of Azerbaijan to discuss separation of religion and state as the topic of the Islam and Secularism: Azerbaijan`s experience and its Echo in France co-organized by the European Azerbaijan Society and Bordeaux Mosque.

Imam said that Azerbaijan, which regained its independence after the collapse of the USSR, is home to Shia majority and Sunni minority as well as big Jewish, Orthodox and Catholic communities.

He said Azerbaijan`s State Committee for the Work with Religious Organizations helps to establish ties between the state and religion.

Ubru recalled his participation in the international conference Religious Tolerance and Secularism hosted in Baku. He pointed out that the state takes care about religious minorities and supports the development of religions and cultures.


/AzerTAc/