On June 25, the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Germany, in collaboration with the State Committee for Affairs with Religious Associations, hosted a significant event titled “Unity in Diversity: Interfaith Voices from Azerbaijan in Dialogue” at the Azerbaijan Cultural Center in Berlin.
The event was attended by senior representatives of the German Foreign Ministry and other state institutions, ambassadors, leaders of various religious communities in Germany, prominent journalists, academics, cultural figures, and community activists, The Caspian Post reports citing AZERTAC.
The event began with the screening of a short film highlighting Azerbaijan’s environment of tolerance and multiculturalism.
Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Germany, Nasimi Aghayev, stated that the primary goal of the event was to promote interfaith dialogue and foster mutual understanding and tolerance among people of different cultures and religions. He emphasized that Azerbaijan’s state policy, which successfully preserves ethnic and religious diversity, has further strengthened the country’s centuries-old traditions of multiculturalism and tolerance.
Ramin Mammadov, Chairman of the State Committee, noted that as a secular and multicultural country, Azerbaijan places great importance on interfaith dialogue. Under President Ilham Aliyev’s leadership, the state considers the protection of religious freedoms and the promotion of multicultural values as key elements of its domestic and international policies. The state not only ensures religious freedoms and encourages interfaith dialogue but also takes care to preserve the heritage of various religious communities.
Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Director of Global Social Action for the Simon Wiesenthal Center, shared that during his visits to Azerbaijan in different periods, he witnessed the country’s ancient and rich environment of tolerance and multicultural traditions. Highlighting the high level of attention and care given to the Jewish community, alongside other religious communities, he stressed the importance of promoting Azerbaijan’s model of religious tolerance worldwide.
Following the speeches, a panel discussion moderated was held.
Following the discussions, a spectacular concert program was presented. The performance by the “Ajam” quartet, consisting of Muslim, Christian, and Jewish musicians, was met with enthusiastic applause from the audience.
As part of their visit to Germany on June 24-25, the delegation led by Ramin Mammadov held meetings with Armin Laschet, Chairman of the Bundestag’s Foreign Affairs Committee, other Bundestag members, and Thomas Rachel, the German Federal Government’s Commissioner for Religious Freedom.
The delegation also met with Abdassamad El-Yazidi, Chairman of the Central Council of Muslims in Germany, and Daniel Botman, Executive Director of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, and visited the Syriac Orthodox Church, the Şehitlik Mosque, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Germany.
