Azeri Islamic body rejects Karabakh’s plan to restore ancient mosque
Bakinskiy Rabochiy, Baku
12 Aug 05
The Baku-based Board of the Muslims of the Caucasus has described as
“provocation and hypocrisy” the decision by the Armenian Apostolic
Church in Nagornyy Karabakh to restore the ancient mosque in the
Karabakh town of Susa. In its statement, the Board called on Iran to
show “Islamic solidarity” and not to send experts for the mosque’s
restoration. The following is the text of report by Azerbaijani
newspaper Bakinskiy Rabochiy on 12 August headlined “Statement by the
Board of the Muslims of the Caucasus”
In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful!
The Board of the Muslims of the Caucasus regards as another
provocation and hypocrisy and resolutely condemns the statement by the
Armenian Church’s Bishop Pargev Martirosyan [the head of the Nagornyy
Karabakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church] that they would
take care of the mosque in Azerbaijan’s ancient town of Susa [Shushi]
and take on commitment to repair it.
This is nothing but an attempt to conceal from the world community
atrocities and acts of vandalism committed by Armenian terrorists and
to pose as humanitarians.
Armenians, who no one in the world have ever trumped in building their
propaganda on lie and slander, this time once again decided to play on
their “devotion to religion”. Doing so, they have once again unmasked
themselves. We will never forget that people intending today “to take
care” of the Susa mosque are bandits who in the recent past were
pillaging our mosques and shrines, were desecrating our cemeteries and
bodies of Azerbaijanis they killed.
Our holy book [Koran] reads: “Who is more wicked than the men who seek
to destroy the mosques of God and forbid His name to be mentioned in
them, when it behoves these men to enter them with fear in their
hearts? They shall be held up to shame in this world and sternly
punished in the hereafter.” (The Cow, 114)
Our mosques do not need to be cared by vandals as the mosques are
protected by the Most High. We believe that, God willing, we will come
back to native lands and the sound of azan [the call for prayers]
coming from the minaret of the Susa mosque will be heard in entire
Karabakh.
As for the Armenians’ intention to invite experts from Iran to restore
the Susa mosque, we are sure that the Islamic Republic of Iran, which
has repeatedly said that Nagornyy Karabakh is an integral part of
Azerbaijan, will not succumb to this provocation and will show Islamic
solidarity.
The Board of the Muslims of the Caucasus states that it always brings
the truth to the world community’s notice and will keep doing so.
Peace, God’s mercy and His blessing be upon you!