On Religious Issues in Contemporary Azerbaijan

What is it about?

The structural tensions that exist in the religious dynamics between Shi‘its and Sunnis in Azerbaijan Republic has led the country’s government to establish a new institution to monitor and supervise the religious issues. This article not only aims to surface the tensions between the “State Committee for Religious Affairs” and the informal religious institutions, but also to show if the secular image of the Azerbaijani State has been affected by this tensions.

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Why is it important?

This research gives details about the religious structure in Azerbaijan and the powerful administration that controls the religious life in the state - although claiming that Azerbaijan is a secular state. Moreover, this research shed a light on the possibility of Iranian influence over the Shi'i sector in the state and reveals that the immediate impression is far away from reality.

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