ISLAMABAD: Policymakers should learn from the Azerbaijan model to promote religious tolerance and harmony in society, a speaker at a seminar organised by Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) said on Tuesday.

The seminar, titled ‘Fostering Religious Tolerance and Tackling Radicalism’ was organised in collaboration with the Embassy of Republic of Azerbaijan here on Tuesday.

It also showcased an exhibition of photographs on the theme ‘Azerbaijan – the Pearl of Islamic Culture’.

Speakers pointed out that military interventions and social problems contributed to radicalism as the religion itself promoted tolerance.

ISSI Chairman Ambassador Khalid Mahmood termed radicalism, militancy and extremism different entities, but were inter-connected.

Addressing the audience on the occasion, Azerbaijan’s Deputy Minister on State Committee on Religious Association Gunduz Ismayilov said: “Root causes of intolerance are socio-economic problems, lack of youth involvement in policymaking, ideological gaps and weak administrative resources.”

He maintained that Azerbaijan targeted all these root causes.

Despite the ongoing conflict with Armenia, the budget of his country was not defence-oriented rather it was welfare-oriented, Mr Ismayilov said.

‘Azerbaijan model’ can bring religious harmony, says Azeri official

“To fill in the ideological gaps, the state promotes arts and literature, national moral values, non-government institutions, and education – both formal and informal,” the Azeri deputy minister said.

“Local legislation in line with international standards, protection of human rights, maintenance of a subtle balance between protecting and promoting human rights are the steps being taken by Azerbaijan to tackle radicalisation,” he added.

Dr Agil Shirinov of Baku State University said Islam was free of radicalism and said evil did not lie in the roots of the religion.

“This problem lies only in the social aspects of our society,” he said.

Dr Shirinov quoted the examples of Syria and Iraq where many nations of different religions used to live in the past, but extremists had brought in the culture of intolerance there.

Photographs on display at an exhibition on the theme ‘Azerbaijan — The Pearl of Islamic Culture’ on Tuesday. — Photos by Ishaque Chaudhry

“Only by overcoming our social, political, territorial and economic problems can we easily eradicate the evils of radicalism from our societies,” he added.

Nijat Mammadli, head of international relations Department of Religious Association, Republic of Azerbaijan, said the reason behind a well-established tolerant society in his country was the national characteristic shaped by history, geography and political factions.

“But we cannot ignore state-sponsored efforts for promotion of tolerance,” he said.

Mammadli maintained that despite being a Muslim majority state, his country had a very tolerant society.

“There are 597 registered religious communities in Azerbaijan, including 21 non-Muslims. Apart from Islam and Christianity, Azerbaijan is home to many other non-Muslim communities but they all believe in peaceful coexistence,” he added.

He said religious tolerance could be promoted if Azerbaijan’s model was implemented in Pakistan and other Muslim countries.

Dr Rasul Bakhsh Rais, director-general, Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad, said military interventions had gradually suppressed political pluralism in this country.

“Military interventions are not democratic governments no matter what reasons you use to legitimise them, even if they may have contributed to development,” he said.

Speaking about ‘Challenge of Radical Islam in Pakistan’ he pointed out three main areas including relationship between religion and politics, reasons for the rise of radical Islam in parts of Pakistan, and prescriptive statements about what can be done to foster tolerance and tackle religious radicalism.

Published in Dawn December 10th , 2014