Azerbaijan

     

1.  Islam in Azerbaijan 
[By Wikipedia]

Approximately 99.2 percent of the population of Azerbaijan is Muslim according to a 2009 Pew Research center report. The rest of the population adheres to other faiths or are non-religious, although they are not officially represented.

 

2. ISLAM IN A POST-SOVIET  REPUBLIC
[By Anar Valiyev]
The collapse of the Soviet Union and the demise of Communist ideas paved the way for an Islamic revival in Azerbaijan. Being one of the most secular Muslim republics of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan is facing a dilemma concerning how to address contemporary religious issues. A suppression of religious activities and organizations could lead to internal opposition and radicalization. 

   

3.  Arab Spring knocks at Azerbaijan's door
[By Aljazeera]

Campaigners are asking the Azerbaijan government to introduce radical reforms early to avoid a popular uprising sweeping the Arab world.

Opposition leaders and rights activists have mobilized large protests in March and early April, and plan more - despite the official restrictions on public rallies. Many demonstrators have been detained.

4. An Islamic revival in Azerbaijan
[Al Jazeera follows pilgrims from this former Soviet state as they prepare for Hajj]

In a series of programmes, Al Jazeera follows Muslim pilgrims from around the world as they prepare to undertake the Hajj pilgrimage.
It is an ancient land at the crossroads of Europe and Central Asia and is said to have been the location of the Garden of Eden.

Different cultures and civilizations have met in Azerbaijan for thousands of years and the country was one of the first to embrace Islam when Arabian invaders imposed their religion on the region in the seventh century.