Supreme Leader’s Aide Blasts Azeri Gov’t for Anti-Islamic Measures

The Leader of Islamic Ummah and Oppressed People Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei’s Advisor for International Affairs Ali Akbar Velayati lambasted the Azeri government for taking harsh anti-religious moves like destroying mosques and preventing people from attending religious ceremonies.

Velayati said on Wednesday that the anti-Islamic measures taken by the government of Azerbaijan cannot continue for long.

“They may take certain steps right now, but based on the experiences of those who have ruled Muslim countries, Islam has deep roots in the hearts of the people,” Ali Akbar Velayati said.

Referring to the Azeri government’s disrespect for Islam and religion, he added that the people of Iran and Azerbaijan share the same religion, history and culture and will never be separated from one another.

“Even under the communist rule in the former Soviet Union, the hearts of the people of both countries remained close,” Velayati said, adding, “Any anti-religious measure in Azerbaijan is against the viewpoint of the majority of the Muslim people of Azerbaijan and has been imposed on them.”

Velayati stated that Iran never interferes in any country’s internal affairs, but it is quite natural for Iranians to react when they hear the voice of the oppressed nation of Azerbaijan.

“We hope the government of Azerbaijan will try to remove the obstacles (that currently exist) between the two countries and to pay attention to its people’s demand for the development of relations between the (two) governments,” he said.

Baku has in recent months launched a serious campaign against Islam and Islamic values, including destroying mosques, banning Hijab (veil for women), detaining Muslim activists, killing Islamists and insulting religious scholars.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry last week summoned Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Tehran Javanshir Akhundov to protest at Baku for its recent insults to religious sanctities.

At the meeting, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi voiced the Iranian government’s protest at Azerbaijan for desecrating religious sanctities.

The envoy said that he will convey the Iranian protest to the Azeri officials.

Earlier, the Iranian embassy in Baku announced that Tehran has recalled its ambassador to Azerbaijan.

“Ambassador Mohammad Baqer Bahrami left for Tehran on May 21 in connection with the insulting of religious saints in Azerbaijan. He was recalled for consultations,” charge d’affaires Ahmed Nemati said in a statement.