AIT held a meeting with the delegation of the US officials
Azerbaijan Institute of Theology held a meeting with the delegation of the US officials visiting Azerbaijan within the frame of the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue.
Welcoming the participants, AIT rector Jeyhun Mammadov said the preservation of multicultural traditions is one of the greatest achievements of the state in Azerbaijan. The activities implemented for the protection of moral values and the development of state-religion relations formed by national leader Heydar Aliyev are successfully continued by President Ilham Aliyev.
Jeyhun Mammadov noted that the declaration of 2016 as the Year of Multiculturalism by President Ilham Aliyev’s decree with the aim of protecting and promoting multiculturalism and tolerance traditions is the indication that the state attaches particular importance to these values.
The Rector mentioned the activities of the Institute and its objectives. He noted that apart from Religious and Islamic Studies programs, AIT aims opening major programs for Jewish and Christian Studies in the future.
The Rector also noted that along with the Islamic studies, students have opportunities to study other world religions, their worship, moral and social structures, as well as social sciences such as philosophy, sociology, psychology and multiculturalism based on the methods of modern social sciences.
AIT rector said the Institute benefits from the experiences of the foremost higher education institutions of the world. Jeyhun Mammadov noted that AIT attaches particular importance to the international relations of the Institute. It has has established relations with the universities of different countries and signed bilateral protocols with Ankara University (Turkey), Istanbul University (Turkey), Marmara University (Turkey), 29 Mayis University (Turkey), Kirikkale University (Turkey), Perm State Institute of Art and Culture (Russia) and Omsk State University (Russia), Moscow Islamic Institute (Russia), International Islamic University of Malaysia and Ahmad Dahlan University of Indonesia.
Responding to the questions from guests, the Rector said three heavenly religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam exist in Azerbaijan where religious tolerance is dominant and believers of these religions coexist in the country with mutual understanding. He emphasized that this coexistence is also the result of state policy.
Jannah Scott, Executive Director of the Baku International Center of Multiculturalism branch in the US, expressed her gratitude for the meeting. Jannah Scott noted that the development of humanist attitude towards diverse culture, religion and languages which is peculiar to Azerbaijani society is commendable.