BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 30. Baku Network
Research and Analysis Public Union has held a meeting with students
of the Institute of Theology as part of a project aimed at raising
awareness of harmful foreign influences and fake news.
The project is supported by the Agency for State Support of
Non-Governmental Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Speaking at the meeting, Trend's Deputy Director and project trainer Sahil
Karimli stated that there are attempts to spread fake news
targeting Azerbaijan in an effort to undermine the unity and
solidarity achieved and maintained by Azerbaijani society.
“In particular, these think tanks and political circles are
targeting the younger generation by exposing us to such harmful
foreign influences. They target young people who have been raised
in a spirit of patriotism in Azerbaijan in an attempt to create
certain differences of opinion among them. We chose the Institute
of Theology for this meeting so that we could share our views with
future religious figures and, at the same time, exchange ideas with
young people. There are still many harmful foreign influences in
the religious sphere and under the guise of religion, and there is
no doubt that they will continue in the coming years,” he said.
Chairman of Baku Network Public Union for Research and Analysis
Elchin Alioghlu said in his speech that there are certain reasons
why Azerbaijan is being targeted.
“First, we are a society where Jews, Tats, Christians, Molokans
and others respect one another. How have we managed to live
together in friendship and neighborhood for centuries? There is a
synagogue, a mosque, and a church on the same street in Baku.
Second is the policy pursued by Azerbaijan. Certain foreign
forces tried to create tensions in relations with Iran. But they
did not achieve what they wanted. Those living there are our
brothers and sisters. Now they are also trying to damage relations
with brotherly Türkiye. Those conducting a biased campaign against
our country in Türkiye are not ethnically Turkish. They are groups
financed from abroad,” he added.
Anar Gafarov, head of a department at the Institute of Theology,
said there are certain mechanisms for shaping beliefs.
“In fact, it is impossible to do anything without belief. The
issue is that people's beliefs are not always directed toward
positive developments. Sometimes negative tendencies are also
promoted in society. Negative phenomena are sometimes created in
different areas to divide and fragment society. It is difficult to
combat disinformation without media and digital literacy. When we
read a news story, we should question its source,” he said.
