Video

First Vice-president of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva and her daughter Leyla Aliyeva visited Shamakhy Juma Mosque, September 14.

Imam of the mosque Marhamat Mustafayev said that those coming to the mosque remember with gratitude the reconstruction of this holy site.

Mehriban Aliyeva: Do you have a lot of foreign tourists coming here ?

Marhamat Mustafayev: Many, some 500 tourists a day.

Mehriban Aliyeva: From what countries ?

Marhamat Mustafayev: From Europe, Saudi Arabia, and America. God bless mister President.

Having been subjected to natural disasters, repressions and destructions in various periods of time, the Shamakhy Juma Mosque was basically repaired by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in the framework of the project “Address of Tolerance – Azerbaijan”. President Ilham Aliyev supported this initiative of the Foundation, favouring this monument – a pearl of the Oriental architecture – with the second life, and contributed to preservation of our people’s centuries-long formed rich heritage and culture, and handing them over to future generations. Restoration and reconstruction works started in March 2010. On May 17, 2013, President Ilham Aliyev attended the opening of the mosque. This mosque is one of the holy sites visited not only by Shamakhy residents, but also guests coming to Azerbaijan.

Presenting the holy Qur’an to Mehriban Aliyeva, mosque’s imam Marhamat Mustafayev said:

- I am very much honoured to welcome You to this ancient mosque of Shamakhy. God bless you. You have done a lot of work here. God bless mister President. I am presenting you God’s book, Insha’Allah. May God protect You.

Mehriban Aliyeva: Thank you very much.

A photo was taken at the end.