Participants of Shamakhi conference on freedom of religious belief visit mosques, shrines

Participants of the conference titled "Modern Information Space and Freedom of Religious Belief" held in Azerbaijan's Shamakhi visited the Shamakhi Juma Mosque, and Imamzada Mosque, and the Pirsaat Baba shrine-mosque complex.

Report informs that Marahmat Mustafayev, the akhund of the Juma Mosque, spoke to media representatives about the history of the mosque and Shamakhi.

He pointed out that Shamakhi is one of Azerbaijan's seismic regions:

"There have been four major, destructive earthquakes here so far. Shamakhi residents use an expression: 'There are three Shamakhis under the Juma Mosque.' The remains of an ancient madrasah discovered during archaeological excavations at the Juma Mosque are currently preserved. Shamakhi has over 3,500 years of urban planning history."

The Imam added that the Shamakhi city Juma Mosque is the second oldest mosque in the Caucasus:

"The preservation of the mosque through 1,300 years is thanks to the efforts of the local population. During the 1918 Genocide of Azerbaijanis, 1,500-2,000 people were burned alive in the mosque. The walls of the Juma Mosque are witnesses to this tragedy."

Mustafayev added that during the tourism season, especially on Sundays, more than 1,000 tourists visit the mosque:

"Within the framework of the State Committee for Work with Religious Associations' project 'A Library in Every Mosque,' a small library has also been arranged in the Shamakhi Juma Mosque and is already available for visitors. It contains not only religious literature but also scientific and artistic works from Azerbaijani and world literature."

The next visit was to the Shamakhi Imamzade mosque. The imam of the mosque, Haji Elshan Rustamov, informed journalists that the mosque was built in 1370:

"Archaeological excavations were carried out here 50 years ago. All information is included in the archive documents. During the massacres of 1918, the remains of people burned in the mosque were buried here. A tombstone was also placed for them during the period of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. Currently, the mosque is being restored."

Rustamov mentioned that a small library has also been established in this mosque:

"In ancient times, all mosques had libraries. Historical information also proves this. We will now continue this tradition in the Imamzade mosque as well."

The final destination of the media tour was the Pirsaat Baba shrine-mosque complex located in the Shamakhi district.

Haji Marahmat Mustafayev, the qadi of the Religious Council of the Caucasus for the Shirvan region, stated that the complex was reconstructed on the initiative of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, and a new mosque building was constructed:

"During the earthquake that occurred in Shamakhi in 2019, cracks appeared in the walls of the shrine. In 2020, restoration and reconstruction work and the construction of a new mosque began here. Prayer and ceremony halls for women and men have been built in the mosque.

Extensive landscaping and greening work has been carried out around the shrine-mosque complex."

The second day of the conference concluded with the media tour.

The conference titled "Modern Information Space and Freedom of Religious Belief" was held with the media support of Global Media Group.