A roundtable discussion on “November 16- International Day of Tolerance” was held at the Azerbaijan University of Languages (AUL) Multiculturalism Scientific Research Laboratory (MSRL). The event was attended by members of the Baku International Center for Multiculturalism, AUL Multiculturalism SRL, Student Youth Organization and students.

Moderator of the round table was Ali Farhadov, a scientific worker at the AUL Multiculturalism SRL. Ali Farhadov noted that tolerance, which forms the basis of multiculturalism, is the philosophy of life in Azerbaijan. Afterwards he made a report on “Tolerance in Azerbaijan: Historical Overview”.

The speaker informed that Azerbaijan is historically the homeland of representatives of different religions and nations, and in the Middle Ages Islam and other religions lived in mutual respect. He spoke in detail about tolerance-based creativity of Azerbaijani poets, Sufism and Hurufism members, their ideas and works of Azerbaijani thinkers based on Islamic solidarity and tolerance, lived at the beginning of XIX-XX centuries.

Later, the employee of the Baku International Center for Multiculturalism, PhD Billura Aslanova made a report on the activities of the Baku International Center for Multiculturalism (BICM). She spoke about the establishment of the BICM in 2014 by President Ilham Aliyev and its activities. B.Aslanova informed the attendants about the “Multiculturalism” program, which is a joint project of the Baku International Center for Multiculturalism with Azerbaijan Television. Then, Turan Karimli, a junior scientific worker at the AUL Multiculturalism SRL, spoke on “Homeland of Tolerance”. He presented the slide and talked about the role of Heydar Aliyev Foundation in the restoration of religious temples and tolerance throughout the country and abroad.

Nigar Mammadli, a 2nd year student at the Faculty of International Relations and Management, spoke about the Baku Process, which has been ongoing since 2008, and about international events in this direction, Intercultural Dialogue Forums and Baku International Humanitarian Forums.

In the end of the event the questions of the participants were responded by the speakers.