BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 8. The recent report of the US Commission on International Religious Freedoms failed to investigate many points and utilized sources that were traditionally pro-Armenian, said Azerbaijan's State Committee for Work with Religious Associations, TurkicWorld reports.
Each year since 2013, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom has recommended the State Department to identify Azerbaijan as one of the countries to be included in the Secretary of State's "special watch list" for alleged violations of religious freedoms in the country. The commission was spreading biased and false information against Azerbaijan in its reports.
Azerbaijan's State Committee for Work with Religious Associations has repeatedly made appropriate clarifications regarding the reports circulated by the US committee.
The Azerbaijani Commission's position on fabricated and rumored issues has been brought to attention at various levels. Official letters have also been sent protesting that the issues raised in the report are untrue and prejudiced.
Leading organizations of Muslim and non-Muslim communities in Azerbaijan have sent special protest statements to the US commission, related to both the latest and previous reports. Various religious figures have also made individual statements to the press.
"Shortcomings" presented by the US commission do not reflect the reality in Azerbaijan. Significantly, many aspects were not investigated in the reports of the commission.
"Independent and traditionally pro-Armenian sources were utilized, spreading information and sometimes purposefully misleading interpretations of the events. These facts severely undermine the objectivity of the reports and, in general, do not correspond to the goals and objectives stated in the preparation of the reports," said the Committee.
The main task of Azerbaijan, including the State Committee for Work with Religious Associations, faces today is to ensure freedom of religious belief of people. Prevention of threats to the rights and freedoms of people, as well as public and state security in the religious sphere is an important issue in ensuring this freedom.
