British Parliament hosts conference on religious tolerance

(Vatican Radio) The British Parliament was host this month to an international conference on religious liberty in culturally plural societies. The specific focus of the conference was on the way that the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan manages the challenges posed by the religious diversity of its population. Titled, “European Multiculturalism Prospects: the Azerbaijani model of interfaith dialogue and religious tolerance,” the conference was jointly organized by the London-based Anglo-Azerbaijani Society and the Odlar Yurdu organization, and supported by the Azerbaijan State Committee on Religious Associations and the country's embassy to the United Kingdom. Listen to our report:

A majority Muslim country with small but significant Christian and Jewish minorities, Azerbaijan has constitutionally and on a practical level a secular form of government that actively and equally supports religious groups on a “content-neutral” basis. The chairman of the State Committee on Religious Associations, Elshad Iskandarov, explained to Vatican Radio what the role of the state is in his country. “The role of the state is basically to keep this tradition [of tolerance and dialogue] and to preserve [it] under the pressure of challenges,” which include the everyday tensions of co-existence, religious radicalisation and the public re-thinking of the role of religion in public life, which is currently underway in and across many societies throughout the world.

The chairman of the Anglo-Azerbaijani Society, Peter, Lord Fraser of Carmyllie told Vatican Radio about what he sees as the great strength of the Azerbaijani model. “It is quite clear to me that in Azerbaijan, there is a clear level of religious tolerance, which I admire,” he said. “[The different communities] are very supportive of each other,” he continued, adding, “this goes back for centuries and it will continue into the future.” Nevertheless, Lord Fraser expressed concern over how the term “tolerance” is used, both in general and in reference to Azerbaijan. “Within Azerbaijan, [authorities and citizens] will allow anyone, whether they are Jewish, Muslim, Christian or Zoroastrian, to carry on their religious views without fear of hindrance,” he explained. “However, they do draw the line at the efforts to proselytise, and they actually have within their constitution a prohibition on proselytising – whereas, I would have thought that in Western Europe and the United States, we would include within the definition of religious tolerance, the right to proselytise if you so wished.”

The Conference took place on the 8th of November, 2012, at the Portcullis House office complex of the British Parliament. It brought together members of the House of Lords, government officials, diplomats and activists.