AZERI PUBLIC FIGURES CRITICAL OF FOREIGN MISSIONARIES
Lider TV
5 Sep 07
Baku
[Presenter] The number of missionary organizations actively operating
in our country has increased recently. Surveys show that the Armenian
lobby and funding are behind these religious groups. The target of
these organizations operating under the guise of spreading Islam and
Christianity is the future of Azerbaijan – its younger generation.
[Aqil Alasgar, editor of Yeni Cag newspaper, captioned, speaking at a
news conference] The (?Gidron Brothers) missionary group is engaged
in propaganda chiefly among soldiers in military units. There is a
humanitarian organization called World Vision that has been registered
in Azerbaijan. This organization has close ties with the US eparchies
of the Armenian Gregorian Church.
[Correspondent] Apart from Muslim and Christian missionary
organizations, the number of Satanist sects has been on the rise in the
capital over the past few years. Studies show that these missionary
organizations, which have a wide area of activity in Azerbaijan,
are backed by Armenian funds and the Armenian lobby.
[Aqil Alasgar] The largest Jewish lobby based in America – the ADL
[Anti-Defamation League] – recently recognized Armenian genocide.
[Controversial Turkish Muslim scholar] Fathullah Gulen’s Vatican
visit was organized precisely by the ADL. It is not us who say this,
this is officially reported in their own newspapers and books.
[Correspondent] When undergoing registration, these organizations
present themselves as organizations that carry out harmless
activities. They turn those with weak faith into their slaves under
the guise of the same religion. Teaching religion at secondary
schools in order to resolve the problem does not seem realistic in
the foreseeable future.
[Aqil Alasgar] Major assistance is being rendered to the Azerbaijani
Education Ministry. One of the requirements that the World Bank has
set Azerbaijan is that religion should not be taught at schools. Once
Azerbaijani education is free from the World Bank, the French and
others mentioned by the gentleman here, then there will be lessons
on religion and ethics in Azerbaijan [as heard].
[Correspondent] The majority of the missionary organizations, whose
influence in Azerbaijan has increased since the opening of the borders,
are unwelcome even in Europe.
[Vuqar Bayturan, chairman of the Our Azerbaijan bloc] Iran, which
is believed to be our neighbour but has effectively created a state
on a larger part of our lands, is engaged in aggressive propaganda
against Azerbaijan and encourages aggressive missionary activity
against Azerbaijan. This process is even going on officially.
[Correspondent] Some have links with foreign intelligence. This is
why the activity of Fathullah and Nurcular followers has been banned
in Russia.