RELIGIOUS FLOWS RAPIDLY SPREADING IN AZERBAIJANI REGIONS: MP

Trend News Agency
April 9 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 9 April /corr. TrendNews I.Alizade / Vahabism and
other non-traditional religious flows rapidly spread in the regions
of Azerbaijan and it presents serious concerns for the State. "If no
serious measures are taken now, in the future it will be impossible
to prevent them," said the Director of the History Institute of
Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, MP Yagub Mahmudov.

Some 430 religion communities have been registered in the State
Committee for Work with Religious Structures of Azerbaijan. Most of
them are Muslim communities.

According to Mahmudov, it is impossible to bring back the people who
join the religions flows.

"Azerbaijan is not against the religions such as Islam and
Christianity. However, non-traditional religious flows, including
vahabism, should be prevented in the Country," Mahmudov said.

According to MP, over the recent period, the Armenian lobby allocated
huge money to spread religious flows in Azerbaijan. "Christian names
are being given to the newborns in Azerbaijani regions, especially
in Ganja city. The parents say that they have promised to someone to
give Christian names to their children. It is all the result of the
religious flows," Mahmudov said.

According to him, changes should be made in the Law on Freedom of
Conscience.