Azerbaijani officials demolish offshore Mosque
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 15 May 2009 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Azerbaijani officials demolish offshore Mosque, 15 May 2009, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4a1d3e0cc.html [accessed 27 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
May 15, 2009
The Oily Rocks mosque
The only offshore mosque in Azerbaijan, on the man-made town called Oily Rocks, has been razed, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service reports.
State oil company SOCAR says the reason for the demolition is due to preparations for Oily Rocks' 60th anniversary, in which structures without a certain architectural style are being demolished.
SOCAR spokesman Nizameddin Quliyev said the mosque was also built on a weak foundation.
But some religious NGOs say there are political reasons for the mosque's destruction, namely a fear that Islam is strengthening in Azerbaijan.
Haci Shahin Hasanli, imam of Baku's Mashadi-Dadash Mosque, said "some officials are trying to take Azerbaijan back to Soviet times, and regard religion as a danger."
A mosque in the Yasamal district of Baku was pulled down last month. A Turkish mosque in central Baku was closed for restoration purposes earlier this month, and last year the Abu Bekr Mosque was closed for security reasons.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
