The religious leader of Azerbaijan is the highest-ranking individual representing our Muslim religion not only in Azerbaijan but throughout the entire Caucasus. The fact that Azerbaijan's religious leader holds the title of Sheikh-ul-Islam of all Caucasus Muslims is a source of great pride for us. Great Leader Heydar Aliyev
The Caucasus Muslims Board and its head, Sheikh-ul-Islam Haji Allahshukur Pashazade, have rendered special services in ensuring that our native religion of Islam finds its place in Azerbaijan, enabling people to practice their religious beliefs, and allowing our religion to occupy its unique position. As the President of Azerbaijan, I take this opportunity to express my respect and esteem to the Caucasus Muslims Board and its respected leader, Haji Allahshukur Pashazade, for the achievements in fulfilling all the requirements of the Islamic religion and granting freedom of conscience to the people in our republic, as well as for the activities shown in strengthening and developing the unity and solidarity of the people and the nation in Azerbaijan...
From the speech of the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev at the opening ceremony of the Bibi-Heybat mosque-shrine complex July 12, 1998
...The Supreme Religious Council of Caucasus Peoples is a very large, powerful, and authoritative organization, and it is holding its 10th congress. I am confident that at this congress, you will conduct the necessary discussions regarding the future activities of Caucasus Muslims and adopt certain decisions. This congress will be a major milestone for the Caucasus Muslims to unite more closely, to stand as a pillar for one another, and to support each other. I am very pleased that His Eminence Sheikh-ul-Islam Haji Allahshukur Pashazade, who leads the Supreme Religious Council of Caucasus Peoples, has worthily fulfilled the duties falling upon him in past years and has thus earned your respect and honor. You know Sheikh-ul-Islam Haji Allahshukur Pashazade; you accept him as a high religious figure, you respect him, and now this congress has gathered under his leadership. I also consider it a significant event that the President of Ichkeria has presented the highest award—the order—of the Republic of Ichkeria to Sheikh-ul-Islam Haji Allahshukur Pashazade. On this occasion, on your behalf, on my own behalf, and on behalf of the Azerbaijani state, I congratulate His Eminence Sheikh-ul-Islam. You should know that for his services, His Eminence Sheikh-ul-Islam was also awarded Azerbaijan's highest honor—the "Shohrat" (Glory) Order—back in 1994...
From the speech of the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev at the international conference and the congress of Caucasus Muslims held in Baku September 30, 1998
Respectable Citizens! I wish to express my attitude regarding an event that concerns the public of our country and myself. A few days ago, insulting articles were written in the "Etimad" newspaper addressed to the religious leader of Azerbaijan, the Sheikh-ul-Islam of Caucasus Muslims, Allahshukur Pashazade. In connection with these writings, we have received hundreds of letters from individuals belonging to various strata of our country's public. In all these letters, people express their indignation regarding such an event and appeal to me, the President of Azerbaijan, for the newspaper that insulted the Sheikh-ul-Islam—the religious leader of Azerbaijan—to be punished. I agree with all these opinions. Freedom of speech and freedom of the press have been fully established in Azerbaijan as one of the fundamental principles of democracy. However, unfortunately, some newspapers—newspapers belonging to specific individuals, or independent newspapers, or newspapers belonging to various parties—abuse the conditions created by the Constitution of Azerbaijan and the laws of Azerbaijan regarding freedom of the press and freedom of speech. In newspapers, we very often witness the insulting of individuals and the writing of slanders and lies about them. At times, they even insult me, the President of Azerbaijan, and cast slanders upon me. They spread various fabrications about me. However, I endure these. I endure them not because I cannot take measures against them within the framework of the law, but because I accept the actions of the authors of such writings as actions contrary to the morality of Azerbaijan and the statehood of Azerbaijan. The President of Azerbaijan is the symbol of the Azerbaijani state. The religious leader of Azerbaijan is the highest-ranking official representing our Muslim religion not only in Azerbaijan but in the entire Caucasus. If the religious leader of Azerbaijan has received the title of Sheikh-ul-Islam of all Caucasus Muslims, then this is a source of great pride for us. It is known that Mr. Allahshukur Pashazade has served the people loyally in this position for over 20 years, participates in the foreign policy of Azerbaijan using his unique capabilities, and serves the statehood of Azerbaijan. The writing of such immoral and unethical words about him demonstrates the true state of the authors and that newspaper. Every nation has its own customs and traditions, its own national-moral and religious values. We are proud of our national-moral values, our religious values, and our customs and traditions. Our people have created our customs, traditions, and national-moral values over hundreds and thousands of years, and these are now the factors that constitute the morality of our people. If a person cannot understand the national-moral values of the nation they belong to, or if they intentionally distort them—if the situation reaches the point where even the religious leader of Azerbaijan is insulted—then, naturally, this must concern us. Why am I saying this? Because this is an insult directed at the Sheikh-ul-Islam now. But in general, insults, lies, and slander have become commonplace in many of our press organs. What is their goal? To form various opinions among the people in the country. They will not be able to achieve this!..
From the statement of the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev August 13, 2001
Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade has rendered special services in the preservation and strengthening of the beautiful traditions of Islam, our holy religion, in our country as well as in the entire Caucasus region. During the years he has led the Caucasus Muslims Board, this religious body has turned into one of the important centers playing a major role in the wide promotion of Islamic values, the strengthening of the religious-moral unity of Muslims, and the increasing of their activity in the life of society. The true civic position held by Haji Allahshukur Pashazade in the struggle of the Azerbaijani people for freedom demonstrated his ability to objectively evaluate the complex socio-political processes occurring in the country and to correctly utilize the power of the religious factor in solving the problems that arose.
Great All-National Leader Heydar Aliyev
The religious leader of Azerbaijan is the highest-ranking individual representing our Muslim religion not only in Azerbaijan but throughout the entire Caucasus. The fact that Azerbaijan's religious leader holds the title of Sheikh-ul-Islam of all Caucasus Muslims is a source of great pride for us.
Great Leader Heydar Aliyev
The Caucasus Muslims Board and its head, Sheikh-ul-Islam Haji Allahshukur Pashazade, have rendered special services in ensuring that our native religion of Islam finds its place in Azerbaijan, enabling people to practice their religious beliefs, and allowing our religion to occupy its unique position. As the President of Azerbaijan, I take this opportunity to express my respect and esteem to the Caucasus Muslims Board and its respected leader, Haji Allahshukur Pashazade, for the achievements in fulfilling all the requirements of the Islamic religion and granting freedom of conscience to the people in our republic, as well as for the activities shown in strengthening and developing the unity and solidarity of the people and the nation in Azerbaijan...
From the speech of the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev at the opening ceremony of the Bibi-Heybat mosque-shrine complex
July 12, 1998
...The Supreme Religious Council of Caucasus Peoples is a very large, powerful, and authoritative organization, and it is holding its 10th congress. I am confident that at this congress, you will conduct the necessary discussions regarding the future activities of Caucasus Muslims and adopt certain decisions. This congress will be a major milestone for the Caucasus Muslims to unite more closely, to stand as a pillar for one another, and to support each other.
I am very pleased that His Eminence Sheikh-ul-Islam Haji Allahshukur Pashazade, who leads the Supreme Religious Council of Caucasus Peoples, has worthily fulfilled the duties falling upon him in past years and has thus earned your respect and honor. You know Sheikh-ul-Islam Haji Allahshukur Pashazade; you accept him as a high religious figure, you respect him, and now this congress has gathered under his leadership.
I also consider it a significant event that the President of Ichkeria has presented the highest award—the order—of the Republic of Ichkeria to Sheikh-ul-Islam Haji Allahshukur Pashazade. On this occasion, on your behalf, on my own behalf, and on behalf of the Azerbaijani state, I congratulate His Eminence Sheikh-ul-Islam. You should know that for his services, His Eminence Sheikh-ul-Islam was also awarded Azerbaijan's highest honor—the "Shohrat" (Glory) Order—back in 1994...
From the speech of the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev at the international conference and the congress of Caucasus Muslims held in Baku
September 30, 1998
Respectable Citizens!
I wish to express my attitude regarding an event that concerns the public of our country and myself. A few days ago, insulting articles were written in the "Etimad" newspaper addressed to the religious leader of Azerbaijan, the Sheikh-ul-Islam of Caucasus Muslims, Allahshukur Pashazade. In connection with these writings, we have received hundreds of letters from individuals belonging to various strata of our country's public. In all these letters, people express their indignation regarding such an event and appeal to me, the President of Azerbaijan, for the newspaper that insulted the Sheikh-ul-Islam—the religious leader of Azerbaijan—to be punished. I agree with all these opinions.
Freedom of speech and freedom of the press have been fully established in Azerbaijan as one of the fundamental principles of democracy. However, unfortunately, some newspapers—newspapers belonging to specific individuals, or independent newspapers, or newspapers belonging to various parties—abuse the conditions created by the Constitution of Azerbaijan and the laws of Azerbaijan regarding freedom of the press and freedom of speech. In newspapers, we very often witness the insulting of individuals and the writing of slanders and lies about them. At times, they even insult me, the President of Azerbaijan, and cast slanders upon me. They spread various fabrications about me. However, I endure these. I endure them not because I cannot take measures against them within the framework of the law, but because I accept the actions of the authors of such writings as actions contrary to the morality of Azerbaijan and the statehood of Azerbaijan.
The President of Azerbaijan is the symbol of the Azerbaijani state. The religious leader of Azerbaijan is the highest-ranking official representing our Muslim religion not only in Azerbaijan but in the entire Caucasus. If the religious leader of Azerbaijan has received the title of Sheikh-ul-Islam of all Caucasus Muslims, then this is a source of great pride for us. It is known that Mr. Allahshukur Pashazade has served the people loyally in this position for over 20 years, participates in the foreign policy of Azerbaijan using his unique capabilities, and serves the statehood of Azerbaijan. The writing of such immoral and unethical words about him demonstrates the true state of the authors and that newspaper.
Every nation has its own customs and traditions, its own national-moral and religious values. We are proud of our national-moral values, our religious values, and our customs and traditions. Our people have created our customs, traditions, and national-moral values over hundreds and thousands of years, and these are now the factors that constitute the morality of our people. If a person cannot understand the national-moral values of the nation they belong to, or if they intentionally distort them—if the situation reaches the point where even the religious leader of Azerbaijan is insulted—then, naturally, this must concern us. Why am I saying this? Because this is an insult directed at the Sheikh-ul-Islam now. But in general, insults, lies, and slander have become commonplace in many of our press organs. What is their goal? To form various opinions among the people in the country. They will not be able to achieve this!..
From the statement of the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev
August 13, 2001
Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade has rendered special services in the preservation and strengthening of the beautiful traditions of Islam, our holy religion, in our country as well as in the entire Caucasus region.
During the years he has led the Caucasus Muslims Board, this religious body has turned into one of the important centers playing a major role in the wide promotion of Islamic values, the strengthening of the religious-moral unity of Muslims, and the increasing of their activity in the life of society. The true civic position held by Haji Allahshukur Pashazade in the struggle of the Azerbaijani people for freedom demonstrated his ability to objectively evaluate the complex socio-political processes occurring in the country and to correctly utilize the power of the religious factor in solving the problems that arose.
Great Leader Heydar ALIYEV