Mosques having necessary papers have never been razed in Azerbaijan, Deputy Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Office Haji Sabir Hasanli told journalists on June 22. “We regret razing of mosques, because a mosque is the house of Allah. But we cannot interfere into the state’s matter,” Hasanli said.

The Muhammad Prophet Mosque was razed in Baku in late May. It was claimed that the mosque was built illegally. “An illegal building was razed in Baku, but not a mosque. And we do not know who named this mosque with the prophet’s name. The building was razed legally,” Chairman of the State Committee on Religious Organizations Hidayat Orujov said earlier.

Orujova said another mosque in the Oil Rocks field was razed, as it did not pass registration. “The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) said that events on the 60th anniversary of the Oil Rocks are held there. Besides the mosque, other buildings were also razed. They were built with clay soil. The SOCAR said the mosque will be restored,” the State committee said.

At present there are 998 mosques in Azerbaijan.

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