style="mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho"">Lately, debates at government level
regarding the introduction of a special discipline on religious issues in secondary
schools' curriculum have become noticeable in Azerbaijan. Discussions on this theme gained
salience with the new educational year approaching.
style="mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho"">The teaching of basic religious
matters in the secondary schools of the country was proposed several years ago by the head
of the Muslims' Spiritual Directorate of the Caucasus Sheikh-ul-Islam alhaji Allahshukur
Pashazade, and recently supported by the State Committee on working with Religious
Organizations (SCWRO) Rafiq Aliev.
style="mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho"">Today 4 medreses (primary Islamic
religious school) and one Islamic university are functioning in Azerbaijan. Numerous
medreses attached to mosques were closed down by officials as they failed to submit
relevant documentation to the SCWRO, and functioning medreses act by license from the
state committee. At the end of June, the SCWRO registered the Baku Islamic University.
style="mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho"">The SCWRO considers necessary the
introduction in the curriculum of secondary schools of a special discipline on religious
subjects, which will not give room for dominance by either the Shi'a or Sunni
interpretations of Islamic canons. It even prepared a special textbook about the basics of
religion. Well-known theologians and public figures have expressed their support to the
state committee on the issue.
style="mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho"">The Minister of Education, Misir
Mardanov, is a fierce opponent of this initiative. The Minister does not consider the
absence of religious teaching in the educational system problematic. According to him,
this system is based on the Constitution "with a rather well-founded legislative
base". "I don't want an uproar to be made around this issue, to raise problems
between different departments", says Mardanov.
style="mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho"">Most likely, the minister was
referring to the SCWRO, emerging with initiatives on religious education of the
population. While commenting opening on voluntary courses for religious education,
Mardanov stated that this issue was not yet discussed. The minister did not express his
opinion regarding the possible publication and introduction of textbooks on the basics of
religion in secondary schools.
style="mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho"">Meanwhile many human rights
organizations welcome the introduction of religious education. "It is a matter of
history of religion. The young generation must be aware of moral values, which includes
religion. But only the state is empowered to decide on the issue", says Haji Akif,
press-secretary of the spiritual directorate.
style="mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho"">But in the opinion of the
coordinator of the Center on freedom of conscience and confession Ilgar Ibragimogli, it is
necessary to remember adherents of various confessions live in Azerbaijan, and that it is
not permissible to restrict their rights. That's why the issue of teaching staff of this
subject is of importance".
style="mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho"">Ibragimov named the current
situation at the faculty of theology of Baku State University. According to students of
theology, the religious doctrine of Islam taught by Turkish teachers working at the
faculty differs from the traditional belief in Azerbaijan. But to experts watching the
development of the situation in this sphere, the statement of SCWRO spokesman N.
Allahverdiev that from 2002-2003 secondary schools would not teach the subject of religion
came as a surprise. Committee head Aliev later explained that religion would not be a
subject in its own right in secondary schools, but the themes connected with religion will
be taught in the context of history, social science and literature.
style="mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho"">Observers considered this fact as
deviation by SCWRO while the Ministry of Education from the very beginning was against the
introduction of the subject of religion in schools.
style="mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho"">SCWRO did not motivate its change of
mind. Given that all strategically important decisions in Azerbaijan are made with the
approval of the country's highest political authorities, it is not difficult to identify
the real authors behind the reduction of governmental frictions on the teaching of
religion in secondary schools.
style="mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho"">The main adherents of teaching
religion in schools argue that increased knowledge about religion may help to prevent the
young generation from falling under the negative influence of internal or foreign radical
religious circles, and improve the religious culture of the population.
style="mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho"">Some analysts are inclined to think
that the leading political powers of the country are not interested in such long-term
strategies. Permanently criticized by European political institutions for antidemocratic
behavior, political authorities of the country keep on the safe side from possible
accusations of supporting the dissemination of Islam in the country, which could be
construed as breaching the secular nature of the state.
style="mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho"">But despite the complexity of the
situation, heated discussions on the issue of religious education in schools is still
going on. And it turns urgent with the beginning of each education year. For today, it is
clear that the subject of religious education will not be introduced this year. What
happens next year remains to be seen.
style="mso-fareast-font-family:"MS Mincho"">Gulnara Ismailova