Baku: Religious denomination leaders have sent letters of gratitude to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations told APA. The letters state that the Order signed by President Ilham Aliyev carries significant public importance in terms of preserving unity, solidarity, and social stability in Azerbaijani society.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the letters express gratitude for the continuous attention, as well as material and moral support provided to the religious sphere, and emphasize the state's care for the preservation of historical religious monuments regardless of religious affiliation. The letters also convey appreciation for the sustained attention and care shown to the country's cultural and religious heritage, noting that at a time when Islamophobia, xenophobia, and antisemitism are on the rise worldwide, Azerbaijan's attention to monuments belonging to various religions-not only within its own territory but also abroad-is a commendable practice.
On January 7, President Ilham Aliyev signed an order to allocate financial assistance to religious institutions across Azerbaijan. The order aims to support the activities of existing religious denominations, promote interfaith solidarity, organize religious education in line with modern requirements, and strengthen initiatives that advance progressive spiritual and moral values.
Under the order, AZN 3.5 million from the 2026 President's Reserve Fund will be allocated to the Caucasus Muslims Office. Additional financial support of AZN 400,000 each will be provided to several other religious communities, including the Russian Orthodox Church's Baku and Azerbaijan Diocese, the Religious Community of Mountain Jews in Baku, the Baku Religious Community of European Jews, the Baku Religious Community of Sephardic Jews, the Apostolic Prefecture of the Catholic Church in Azerbaijan, and the Albanian-Udi Christian Community in Azerbaijan. Furthermore, AZN 400,000 will be allocated to the Moral Values Promotion Fund under the State Committee on Work with Religious Institutions to support non-Islamic religious communities.