OTS religious leaders tour Azerbaijan's liberated territories

Participants of the international scientific-practical conference dedicated to Seyid Yahya Bakuvi, held as part of the 7th meeting of the heads of Muslim religious administrations of the member states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Baku, visited Aghdam, Khojaly, Khankandi and Shusha.

According to Report, the guests performed prayers at the Juma Mosque in Aghdam, led by Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims' Board Allahshukur Pashazadeh. They then visited the Alley of Martyrs in Aghdam, where prayers were offered for the souls of the martyrs.

After Aghdam, the delegation visited the Khojaly Memorial Complex.

Sabuhi Gahramanov, Deputy Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in Khankandi, Khojaly and Aghdara districts, briefed the guests on the complex. He said the memorial perpetuates the memory of the victims of the Khojaly genocide and displays photographs and materials related to the night of the tragedy.

The religious figures then toured Khankandi, including Victory Square and Victory Park, where they were given detailed information about the sites.

They were told that major projects had been implemented there to commemorate the historic Victory achieved in the Patriotic War and the heroism of the Azerbaijani people. The delegation also familiarized itself with the large-scale construction, reconstruction and improvement works underway in Khankandi.

The conference participants expressed satisfaction with the work carried out in Khankandi and shared their impressions of the conditions created and projects implemented in the city.

The guests then traveled to Shusha.

In Shusha, the religious leaders visited Jidir Duzu, the Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque and the Shusha Mosque currently under construction.

Aydin Karimov, Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in the Shusha district, told the delegation that historical buildings, mosques and monuments in the city had been subjected to Armenian vandalism during nearly 30 years of occupation.

He said large-scale restoration and reconstruction work began in Shusha after the city was liberated from occupation.

Karimov noted that ancient Shusha had 17 neighborhoods, each of which had a bathhouse, mosque and spring.

He said historical and architectural structures in the old neighborhoods, including mosques, had also been subjected to Armenian vandalism. Following the liberation of the city, the Yukhari Govhar Agha, Ashaghi Govhar Agha, Saatli, Mamayi and Chol Gala mosques were restored, while construction of the new Shusha Mosque began.

The religious leaders' visit to the liberated territories concluded after they familiarized themselves with the construction work and design of the Shusha Mosque.