AZERBAIJANI MEDIA DISSEMINATE GROUNDLESS SPECULATIONS ON RELIGIOUS ISSUES

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
19.05.2009 18:25 GMT+04:00

Azerbaijani media disseminated information that a student from
Echmiadzin religious seminary was expelled because of visiting Blue
Mosque in Yerevan. For verifying such reports, a PanARMENIAN.NET
correspondent turned to Holy See St. Echmiadzin Press Service. As
reported by Father Gevorg, President of Sevan Religious Seminary,
"Students cannot be expelled because of visiting mosques. They study
theology and are entitled to visit mosques or religious institutions
and temples representing other beliefs. One student was expelled from
seminary for indecent conduct."

For receiving further comments, the PanARMENIAN.NET correspondent
turned to Blue Mosque press service. This is how person-in-charge for
the Mosque Shapur Lotvi commented upon Azerbaijani media reports,
"With all responsibility, I deny such information. Blue Mosque is
open to everybody regardless nationality and belief. We maintain
friendly ties with Armenian clergy, and receive them several times
per year. Hence, statements on a seminary student being expelled
because of attending mosque is groundless."