Believers prevent demolition of mosque in Baku

Today, believers surrounded the "Haji Javad" mosque located in central Baku and prevented start of its demolition.

The “Haji Javad” mosque is located at the intersection of Abdulla Shajig and Chingiz Mustafaev Streets and was built at the end of the 19^th century. The mosque is in the area of mass demolition of old buildings, known as "Sovietskaya", the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

Earlier, the city authorities had assured the believers that the mosque would not be demolished, a parishioner of the "Haji Javad" told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent on condition of anonymity, adding, "But last week, after the Friday namaz (prayer), we were told that the mosque would be demolished, and we should take away the property within two days." This caused outrage among the believers visiting our mosque."

This morning, workers appeared near the mosque with the equipment to start the demolition. However, about 150 believers took the mosque into a circular defence and prevented the start of demolition. Policemen failed to oust the protesters away from the mosque, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

By noon, the police left the territory.

However, believers do not disperse, fearing that after they leave, they will start the demolition. They administered their noon prayer right in the street near the mosque, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.