Azerbaijan has also allowed its Jewish community to flourish in a Muslim majority country and coexist peacefully with Azerbaijani Muslims who are tolerant of religious diversity in their country. Mountain Jews from Qırmızı Qəsəbə (Red Town) in Azerbaijani district of Quba are also experiencing a religious revival. Qırmızı Qəsəbə with a population of 3,598 is believed to be the world’s only all Jewish town outside of Israel and that too in a predominantly Muslim country right next to Iran. The red town itself was founded as a safe haven for Jews in 1742 by Fatah Ali Khan, the Muslim emir of the town of Quba, located in a relatively flat area just south of the modern day border with the Russian province of Dagestan. Christians too from different denominations and sects like Georgian and Russian Orthodox Christians and some Protestant and Catholic Christians peacefully coexist with Azeri Muslims. Churches and Synagogues are as much protected by the Azerbaijani government as Mosques are and even Azerbaijani government also renovated in 2000 two important synagogues from 1880’s in the town of Qırmızı Qəsəbə to facilitate the local Jewish populace. Jews have always been an integral part of Azerbaijani society and there are not just Jewish members of Azerbaijani parliament like Yevda Abramov (A Mountain Jew) but Jewish community has also been very consistent in giving Azerbaijan great writers, philanthropists, scientists and soldiers.

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. Azerbaijan’s secular values infatuate me more with this beautiful country apart from the beautiful landscape and culture this great Caucasian nation has got.

An Ode to Azerbaijan’s Secular Governance from a Pakistani

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