Turkic Muslim Religious Leaders Met in Baku
The council adopted the Baku Declaration to bolster cooperation across the Turkic and Islamic worlds.
Updated on Sept. 19, 2026 in Islam
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The Council of Heads of Muslim Religious Administrations of the Organization of Turkic States held its 7th meeting in Baku. Participants finalized the Baku Declaration to formalize commitments to shared Turkic and Islamic cultural heritage.
Why it matters
The gathering aims to protect common values and restore cultural identity within the region. This collaborative effort prioritizes the preservation of religious heritage to ensure its survival for future generations.
During the 30-year occupation of Azerbaijani territories, 65 mosques were destroyed. Following liberation, 12 of these sites have been restored and reopened, with the Aghdam Juma Mosque receiving priority status.
The players
Council of Heads of Muslim Religious Administrations
This is a body within the Organization of Turkic States dedicated to coordinating religious and cultural policies among member nations.
Aghdam Juma Mosque
This historic religious monument was a target of destruction during conflict and is now a central focus of government-led restoration efforts.
The details
The meeting focused on the long-term reconstruction of religious infrastructure in liberated territories. Officials emphasized the systematic restoration of historical sites as a core component of preserving Turkic-Islamic heritage.
Timeline
Azerbaijan hosted the Islamic Solidarity Games in 2017.
The 7th Meeting of the Council occurred in Baku on September 19, 2026.
Azerbaijan plans to host the OIC Summit in 2027.
Culture Shift
This meeting follows the pattern set by the 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games in showcasing Azerbaijan as a hub for regional cultural and religious events. The shift marks a move toward institutionalized collaboration among Turkic nations to reclaim and maintain their shared history.
The restoration of these religious sites facilitates the return of community religious practice to previously inaccessible territories. For the broader public, the declaration provides a framework for future cross-border cultural initiatives.
The takeaway
The Baku Declaration signals a coordinated regional effort to stabilize and preserve Islamic cultural identity through the reconstruction of historical sites. These efforts demonstrate how infrastructure restoration can serve as a primary tool for cultural preservation.
What happens next
Azerbaijan is scheduled to host the OIC Summit in 2027, marking the next major international gathering for the country.
Further reading
For broader context on these developments, visit the Islam section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Trend.
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