On June 24, a "Graduation Day" was celebrated at the Azerbaijan Institute of Theology (AIT), which operates under the State Committee on Affairs with Religious Associations, marking the end of the 2023/2024 academic year.

The event commenced with a one-minute silence in memory of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and the martyrs who fell for the territorial integrity of the country, followed by the playing of the National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Attendees included representatives from the Presidential Administration, the Cabinet of Ministers, various institutions, members of the Milli Majlis (National Assembly), and heads of religious communities. Agil Shirinov, Rector of the AIT, opened the ceremony by noting that the Institute, established in 2018 by presidential decree, aims to train highly qualified specialists in the field of religion. He emphasized that AIT is one of the few educational institutions in the Islamic world offering inter-sectarian education, with a commitment to fostering national specialists who possess deep knowledge of world religions and a tolerant attitude toward all faiths.

Agil Shirinov also highlighted the Institute's efforts to accommodate Azerbaijanis living abroad and its cooperation with universities in Turkey, Russia, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Pakistan. He pointed to the establishment of the "Baku Theology College" under the Institute last year, which plays a crucial role in training well-grounded, state-oriented specialists in religious studies.

Ramin Mammadov, the Chairman of the State Committee on Affairs with Religious Associations, congratulated the teaching staff and students on Graduation Day. He emphasized that regardless of specialization, working for the strengthening of the state is a fundamental duty of every citizen. Mammadov remarked that Azerbaijan is writing a new chapter in the history of the South Caucasus, underscoring the significance of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation’s mission to restore religious and historical monuments destroyed during the occupation, reflecting the nation’s deep connection to its spiritual values.

According to Mammadov, the primary goal of the Azerbaijan Institute of Theology is to train specialists who are loyal to national values and state traditions. He expressed confidence that the graduates would prove themselves as capable professionals and wished them success.

Fazail Ibrahimli, Deputy Speaker of the Milli Majlis and Chairman of the Committee on Public Associations and Religious Institutions, congratulated the graduates and expressed hope that they would play a pivotal role in promoting national and spiritual values. He noted that significant changes in Azerbaijan’s religious sector have resulted in noteworthy achievements and emphasized that the state-religion relationship in Azerbaijan has become a global model. Ibrahimli highlighted the importance of higher religious education that enriches national values while embracing centuries of multiculturalism and tolerance.

Fuad Nurullayev, Deputy Chairman of the Caucasian Muslims Board, Ravan Hasanov, Executive Director of the Baku International Multiculturalism Center, and Milikh Yevdayev, Head of the Baku Mountain Jewish Community, also spoke, emphasizing the necessity of training specialists rooted in national and spiritual values.

On behalf of the graduates, Zeynab Karimli acknowledged the Azerbaijani state’s significant support for youth in their professional development.

Following the speeches, a ceremony was held to award graduates who achieved high honors, accompanied by a cultural program. The "Graduation Day" included an exhibition of Islamic art, a musical performance by a self-activity group of the Institute's teachers and students, and a recitation of the Quran by first-year student Gismat Rzayev.

Notably, 52 students (25 girls and 27 boys) graduated from the Azerbaijan Institute of Theology this academic year, bringing the total graduate count to 173.