“On Freedom of Faith”

Whilst being predominately an Islamic country, Azerbaijan consists of a whole range of religious faiths and beliefs due to the fact that there are so many different ethnic groups that live in the country. Whilst it may not seem like it as you sunbathe at your hotel Baku, Azerbaijan is actually a religious country and nothing more than its culture and architecture will exemplify this.

It is estimated that 93.4% of the country’s population identifies itself as being Muslim. Within them, most of them are Shia (following the orthodox codes of Shi’a Islam) at 85%, whilst 15% are Sunni. A general trend shows that the Sunni are more prevalent in the North whilst the Baku region has a real stronghold of Shi’ism. The rest of the population is a real melting pot of other faiths, whilst a small group are not religious at all. These faiths include the Armenian Apostolic Church, various Christian sects and the Russian Orthodox Church. However it is important to note that within the Muslim majority, the religious identity tends to be something that is based more on culture and upbringing rather than strict religious practice.

Being a secular country, anyone can worship anything in Azerbaijan. Everyone has a right to believe in anything, practice any religion and even spread it if they wish to do so. Every religion is equal under the law. In 1992, the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan summed this all up as being ‘on freedom of faith’. However, if anything, Azerbaijan tends to be one of the most irreligious places in the world. A recent poll showed that 50% of its people stated that religion had little or no importance in their lives.

Baku has a stunning mix of mosques and Islamic centres to visit during your travels. There are many Baku hotels that are centred on these sites in order to give you an insight into the belief systems that are present. Whilst religion may not play a vital role in everyday life, its strength in Azerbaijan’s history is something that will never truly die away.