AIT rector attends international forum

Agil Shirinov, Rector of Azerbaijan Institute of Theology (AIT), participated in the 2nd International Forum on Theological Heritage of Muslims in Russia organized at Bolgar Islamic Academy of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russian Federation.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the rector mentioned the retaliation of the Azerbaijani Army to the attacks of Armenia against our country, which began on September 27. AIT rector said that Armenia once again violated the ceasefire, and as a result, Azerbaijan was forced to counterattack along the entire front liberating part of our lands occupied by Armenia.

A.Shirinov stressed that Azerbaijan is fighting the aggressor in its own land and expect the moral support of the Islamic world, including Russian Muslims, as well as the entire humanity.

The rector also delivered a speech on “The causes of religious radicalism in the modern Islamic world and its consequences”, and mentioned the position of Islam and Muslims in the world during the medieval period. A.Shirinov spoke about the decline in the Islamic world after the 14th century and the reasons for the emergence of radical groups. The AIT rector said that radical groups in the Islamic world make several methodological mistakes. Thus, the fact that radical groups present religious texts out of context and confine them to a certain period serves to discredit Islam as a universal religion and localize it. Their activities under the camouflage of religion have become a common theme for the of opponents of Islam. Today, hundreds of repulsive books and articles are published, debates are organized, and demonstrations are held. This is how radicalism contribute to Islam.

The 2nd International Forum on Theological Heritage of Muslims in Russia will last until October 30.