On September 23, a two-day seminar on "The factor of religion in the ideological struggle: expectations from the media" started in Shusha with the joint organization of the State Committee on Affairs with Religious Associations and the Fund for Propagation of Moral Values operating under it.
Heads of relevant state institutions and more than 30 media representatives are participating in the seminar.
The first day of the seminar began with the singing of the National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Later, the dear memory of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and our martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country was commemorated with a minute's silence. The video dedicated to September 27 - Memorial Day, which was jointly created by the State Committee and its subsidiary Foundation for Propagation of Moral Values and "Global Media Group", was shown.
Ramin Mammadov, Chairman of the State Committee for Work with Religious Institutions, opened the event with an introductory speech and emphasized that the Azerbaijani Army won a historic victory in the Patriotic War under the leadership of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. He said that the organization of the religious seminar with media representatives in our territories freed from occupation is not accidental, and the restoration of religious and historical monuments that were destroyed and insulted in these lands is the best expression of the attitude of the Azerbaijani people to their history, national and moral values.
Ramin Mammadov, stating that the seminar was dedicated to the current topic, emphasized that Azerbaijan has enough opportunities to fight against the attempts of various states to use religion as a subject of political manipulation and ideological pressure. He noted that relevant structures work in a coordinated manner in this field, but ideology is such a sensitive area that state institutions, media representatives and society should work together. The main goal of organizing the seminar is to exchange opinions, listen to comments and suggestions against attempts to turn the religious factor into a tool of political-psychological and ideological influence at a time when the traditional order is changing and new geopolitical realities are being formed.
Erestu Habibbayli, head of the Humanitarian Affairs Department of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan, said that numerous projects are being implemented throughout the year in accordance with the Action Plan to declare the city of Shusha the Cultural Capital of the Islamic World in 2024. All these measures contribute to Shusha, the eternal and eternal land of Azerbaijan, taking its rightful place on the world scale. Against the background of Islamophobia and xenophobia in some regions, Azerbaijan continues its multicultural traditions. A. Habibbeyli said that important responsibilities fall on the media in the promotion and promotion of these values, and emphasized the importance of giving wide space to education and propaganda related to religious issues.
Later, a panel session was held with the moderation of the deputy chairman of the State Committee, Gunduz Ismayilov on topic "Freedom of religious belief and free media: where do the boundaries begin?'.
Speaking at the panel session, Ravan Hasanov, Executive Director of the Baku International Multiculturalism Center noted that despite being located in a complex region, Azerbaijan is one of the most stable, safe and dynamically developing countries in the region and the world. Today, religion is politicized by some radical groups in the world. This applies not only to Islam, but also to other religions. R. Hasanov emphasized that Azerbaijan is one of the exemplary countries in the world due to its traditions of tolerance.
Rafig Hashimov, Deputy Chairman of "Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting" Closed Joint Stock Company talked about issues such as modern media world, information policy, new creative qualities of modern journalism.
Natig Mammadli, deputy executive director of the Media Development Agency, noted that trainings were held to increase the professionalism and specialization of media representatives and that today's seminar was of special importance in the direction of the development of field journalism.
Avaz Rustamov, the executive secretary of the Azerbaijan Press Council, spoke about the need to establish and expand effective and mutually beneficial cooperative relations between media subjects and state institutions.
After the speeches, interactive discussions were held and the questions of the participants were answered.
Later, a mediatour was organized for the participants of the seminar. The media representatives got acquainted with the reconstruction works carried out in Shusha. They visited the Shusha fortress wall, "Bulleted statues" square, the house museum of Uzeyir Hajibeyli, the Khangizi spring, the residential complex of the Mehmandarovs and the museum mausoleum of M.P. Vagif. At the end, the participants took a commemorative photo in Jıdır Dyuzu.