Monuments of all religions and their confessional affiliation should be preserved in the territories that have come under the control of Azerbaijan, and services should continue there, Deputy Chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation, Executive secretary of Muslim International Forum Damir Mukhetdinov told RIA News.
On 10th November, the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, Vladimir Putin, Ilham Aliyev and Nikol Pashinyan, signed a joint statement on the complete cessation of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh. According to the statement, Armenia and Azerbaijan stop at the occupied positions, then a number of districts come under Baku's control, the sides exchange captives, and Russian peacekeepers are stationed along the contact line and the Lachin corridor connecting Karabakh with Armenia.
"Regardless of what religion the temple belongs to, we will always call for the preservation of these monuments, and we advocate that services be held in them, that the name of God be sung there and called for creation. And these temples must preserve their confessional affiliation, " Mukhetdinov said.
In particular, he drew attention to the fact that almost 70 mosques in Nagorno-Karabakh "need protection and restoration". "Many mosques in Karabakh were desecrated and turned into pigsties. On the walls, someone wrote names and obscene statements, "- said the representative of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation.
Mukhetdinov expressed confidence that the Azerbaijani authorities will restore both Muslim and Christian shrines. "I met with representatives of different confessions in Azerbaijan they speak out in support of the religious policy of Azerbaijani authorities. The President of the country pays attention to temples of all faiths. The state allocates funds for their restoration, " the source concluded.