Baku cancels decision to demolish "Fatmei Zakhra" mosque

Despite court decisions to demolish the "Fatmei Zakhra" mosque, located in Eni Gyuneshli village, Surukhan District of Baku, after interference of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliev, it will be preserved. The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports that this was the topic of the official statement of the Department of Moslems of the Caucasus (DMC) widespread on May 13.

The decision was made by the head of Azerbaijan after he was addressed by the head of the DMC Sheikhulislam Allahshukyur Pashazade.

In particular, he asked President's assistance in suspension of decisions about mosque demolition and as "the optimum solution of the problem" - to hand the temple over to the DMC.

President Aliev satisfied the request and ordered to transfer a "Fatmei Zakhra" mosque to the DMC.

A source in the President's Administration confirmed the fact of Aliev's command to preserve the mosque and hand it over to the DMC.

The Surakhan District Executive Authority, which had claimed to demolish the mosque, refrained from comments saying that they have no "official information."

In his turn, Tofig Razizade, head of the community of the "Fatmei Zakhra" mosque, has positively treated the decision to preserve the temple. "There's no difference who is managing the mosque. The main thing is that it will survive, and believers will be able to visit it and administer their rites. I'd like to thank everyone who contributed to preservation of the mosque," said Razizade.