“We, the Mountain Jews of Azerbaijan, have been living in this land for about 2500 years. During this period, the people of Azerbaijan have embraced us and protected us from dangers. If any Jew anywhere in the world feels threatened, they should move to Azerbaijan.” This quote from Melikh Yevdayev, the leader of Azerbaijan’s Jewish community, captures the essence of this secular Muslim nation’s multicultural fabric.
While students across America’s elite institutions of “higher learning” spew hate towards Jews and display openly antisemitic behavior, and some Arab countries continue to “celebrate” the massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023, Azerbaijan stands out as a global model for religious tolerance. This nation of 10 million, the size of South Carolina, is sending a clear message to the world that practicing one’s faith in a spirit of tolerance is a universal human right. Indeed, as Mr. Yevdayev, the Jewish leader of this tolerant nation, likes to say: “Azerbaijan is among the few countries which has been able to create harmony among different faiths and show the world what it means to be religiously tolerant.”
This tolerance towards Jews in Azerbaijan extends to other faiths that are under siege as well. South of Azerbaijan, in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Bahais have been systematically persecuted, continuously harassed and executed for no other reason than for being a Bahai. Indeed, since the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s fatwa to destroy this faith-based community, members of the Bahai Faith have faced systemic discrimination and death.
A final point that the representative of the Bahai community of Azerbaijan shared with me coincided with the 6th annual Conference on Intercultural Dialogue, held in Baku. Mr. Askarli pointed out that President Aliyev’s emphasis on “Dialogue for Peace” is opening a new chapter in the socio-economic life of Azerbaijan on the global stage: “We are firmly moving in the direction of a country that will be a global change agent” He used the example of the Bahai Temple in India as a symbol of “what my beautiful country Azerbaijan will offer the world.
Not only do Jews and Bahai enjoy the freedom to practice their faith, but so do Christians of all denominations. At the sidelines of the 6th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue Conference, President Aliyev received the representatives of the Church of Latter-Day Saints at his office in Baku. The meeting, which also included the CEO of the Christian-inspired Stirling Foundation, discussed the importance of inter-faith dialogue. During the same week, President Aliyev met with the representatives of the Orthodox Church, demonstrating once again that people of all faiths are welcomed in Muslim Azerbaijan.
Why is it important for the U.S. to acknowledge and highlight Azerbaijan’s global leadership on religious tolerance? This strategic country, sandwiched between an aggressive Russia and an adventurous Iran, offers a concrete model for the rest of the world on how to lead by example. As the United States and the free world struggle with the scourge of religious intolerance, they should follow Azerbaijan’s lead.
S. Rob Sobhani, Ph.D. is an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University
