By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

President Ilham Aliyev has outlined the Heydar Aliyev Foundation's services to rebuild religious sites in Azerbaijan’s liberated lands.

He made the remarks while attending the inauguration of a statue to philanthropist Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev in Baku on January 18.

“The Yukhari Govharagha, Ashaghi Govharagha and Saatli mosques in Shusha, the Aghdam city mosque and the Zangilan city mosque are being overhauled by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. At the same time, the construction of new mosques in Dashalti, Hadrut, and Shusha has been initiated by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. The number of these religious sites alone is eight, and I am sure that the Foundation will take an active part in other projects,” he said.

He added that the construction of new IDP settlements was also initiated by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

The president emphasized that in addition to its traditional activities, the foundation had launched extensive activities in the liberated lands.

Multicultural, modern state

Aliyev also stressed the foundation's exceptional services in promoting Azerbaijan as a multicultural and modern state in the world.

 “The main objective and goal of the foundation have been to help people, promote Azerbaijani culture in the world, and contribute to the development of education, health, culture, art, and science. The Heydar Aliyev Foundation has rendered exceptional services in promoting Azerbaijan as a multicultural and modern state in the world,” he said.

The president underlined that as a result of the foundation’s activities, Azerbaijan is better known. He added that it was this factor that helped the country during the second Karabakh war in 2020.

“Because the people of Azerbaijan know very well that the Armenian lobby and its supporters made up all sorts of lies about Azerbaijan and threw them into the media. However, the many years of activities of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in various countries and the recognition of Azerbaijan as a modern and progressive state have subverted this propaganda,” he said.

Zeynalabdin Taghiyev

President Aliyev noted that Taghiyev went down in history not as a rich man but as a philanthropist. He said that many projects were implemented in Azerbaijan on Taghiyev's initiative.

“Among them, of course, I should mention the project to bring clean drinking water to Baku... It was also on his initiative and financial support that a theater was built in Baku, as well as many industrial enterprises and the first secular school for Azerbaijani girls. I can say that the first secular school for girls in the Muslim world was established in Baku at the expense of Taghiyev's funds and on his initiative,” he said.

The president noted that the opening of streetcar tracks in Baku is also associated with Taghiyev’s name, adding that he was the author of many beautiful buildings that added beauty to the city and contributed to its architectural style.

Stating that Taghiyev was sending hundreds of students to Russia and Europe and paid for their education, the president noted that his grandfather Aziz Aliyev was among those students.

“Zeynalabdin Taghiyev had the Holy Quran translated into Azerbaijani and proved to be an innovator in this field too. For the first time, the Holy Quran was translated into Azerbaijani,” he said.

The president noted that many religious sites were built and renovated in Azerbaijan on his initiative and with his financial resources, he added that Taghiyev’s educational initiatives were not limited to Baku.

“At the same time, schools were opened at his expense in Nakhchivan, Ganja, Shamakhi, Georgia and places where Azerbaijanis lived,” he said.

Aliyev also stressed that it was Zeynalabdin Taghiyev who established the traditions of charity in the 19th century.

Karabakh Revival Fund, YASHAT Foundation

Recalling that after the war, the Karabakh Revival Fund and the YASHAT Foundation were established on his initiative, Aliyev stated that at the same time, Azerbaijani citizens and companies voluntarily donate funds to both institutions.

“Today, hundreds of veterans are receiving treatment, returning to life and restoring their health both in Azerbaijan and abroad. This once shows that charity has always been an integral part of the Azerbaijani people,” he said.

“It was simply necessary to create conditions for it. This policy had to be supported by the state, and we are seeing it today,” he added.