Azerbaijan is an independent presidential republic, a state washed by the Caspian Sea and located partly in Western Asia, partly in the Middle East. As for any other country, religious canons and principles are especially important for him.
Secular state
In the Muslim world, the Republic of Azerbaijan is considered the first democratic secular state, which means the independence of such institutions as religion and the state from each other. But this does not mean at all that religious issues are less important here than any others. Religion in Azerbaijan is not the same for everyone, it is represented by a combination of different trends and types of confessions. Still, most of the country's population professes Shiite Islam. This trend of Islam is also widespread in Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Bahrain.
Freedom of belief
Azerbaijan adheres to the freedom of religion and choice of faith, which is recorded in Article 1 of Chapter 1 of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan. According to the Constitution of Azerbaijan, no one has the right to promote this or that religion or humiliate the rights and dignity of those professing another religion, and religious institutions should not influence education. According to the same Constitution, a citizen has the right not to profess any religion at all, as well as to express his beliefs about faith and profess any religion together with other believers.
Zoroastrianism was widespread on the territory of Azerbaijan long ago. This ancient religion remained dominant there for at least a thousand years. There is a version that the acquisition of the name Azerbaijan by this state is connected precisely with the worship of Zoroastrianism. And today Zoroastrianism has a certain impact on the religious life of the believers in Azerbaijan. Thus, the celebration of one of the main events of Novruz Bayramy (astronomical new year) has its roots in Zoroastrianism.
Denominations
The main religious movement in Azerbaijan, of course, is Islam: it is adhered to by about 99% of the country's inhabitants, most of whom are Shiites. There are also Sunnis, but they are in the minority. There are about 1,800 mosques in the country. Along with Islam, the state also professes Judaism.
One of the main religious communities in the Republic of Azerbaijan is the Jewish community. There are 6 synagogues in the capital Baku and other cities, one of which, recently built, is the largest in Europe.
Three directions of Christianity are also widespread: Catholicism, Orthodoxy and Protestantism. In the city of Alban (now Baku), according to legend, the Apostle Bartholomew died for Christ. It happened near the Maiden Tower, where Christians still come to worship this memorable and holy place.
