Even Pope Francis during his visit to Azerbaijan in 2016 couldn’t hesitate from praising the religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence of Muslims, Jews and Christians in Azerbaijan. Even adherents of Baha’i faith who have often faced immense persecution in neighboring theocratic regime of Ayatollahs in Iran, found calm and peace in the “Land of Fires” Azerbaijan. And from Azerbaijan’s glorified title “Land of Fires” I also remember and how can I forget that Azerbaijan has gained this title (according to many local traditions) because of the oil fueled fires in the temples of once-dominant Zoroastrianism which began from the lands which exist today in modern day republic of Azerbaijan. Even the name Azerbaijan which literally means “Protector of Fire” in Persian has Zoroastrian links. Today the reverence of religious and cultural customs and traditions of Zoroastrianism remains intact in Azerbaijan, and the New Year Nowruz continues to be the main holiday in the country which further reflects how Azerbaijanis haven’t forgotten their glorious past and they still do revere pre-Islamic traditions too along with Muslim religious traditions which are being followed by the majority of populace. Zoroastrian religious monuments are still present in Surakhany, Khinalyg, and Yanar Dag and they are being revered both by locals as well as by foreign tourists who flock in huge numbers every year to explore these historical gems of Azerbaijan. This clearly reflects a colorful multicultural past as well as present of the land and people of Azerbaijan who have always marched the beat of a different drummer rather than slavishly adhering to orders of or bowing to political pressures of their former colonial master which now exists on global map as Russian federation not as USSR. Azerbaijan’s multiculturalism has remained intact today all because of the secular socio-political environment which has been promulgated by its national leaders like Heydar and Ilham Aliyev. Azerbaijan’s secular values infatuate me more with this beautiful country apart from the beautiful landscape and culture this great Caucasian nation has in its possession. Azerbaijan has embraced religious diversity at a time when terrorist groups like ISIS and Boko Haram are massacring non-Muslims in the name of a religion which was founded as a religion of peace for everyone. Azerbaijani Muslims have shown to the whole global community that not all Muslims are ISIS jihadis or plane hijackers or the ones responsible for massacring innocent civilians on the streets of Paris and New York.

An ode to Azerbaijan’s State Committee on Religious Associations for ensuring religious harmony in Azerbaijan

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