| The Office of the Caucasus Muslims (QMI) condemned the Norwegian ambassador in Baku, Steinar Gil, on Thursday, claiming that he insulted believers by visiting Bakuâs Juma mosque on Jule 4 while drunk. Haji Salman Musayev, deputy chairman of QMI, said the ambassador Gil scoffed at Juma congregants for their failure to protect their religious rights, calling them âcowards.â The Norwegian Royal Embassy refused to comment on the claims. The ambassador Gil has been a target of Azerbaijanâs state-controlled media the days following last Octoberâs post-election riots in Baku for hosting several opposition leaders in the embassy building. Among those who found refugee in the Norwegian embassy were also Rauf Arifoglu, a deputy chairman of the main opposition Musavat (Equality) party and editor-in-chief of the opposition daily Yeni Musavat as well as Ilgar Ibrahimoglu, former imam of the Juma mosque. Both later surrendered to the authorities. While Ibrahimoglu received five years of suspended sentence for his alleged involvement in the riots, Arifoglu still is facing trial at Azerbaijanâs Heavy Crimes Court along with six other opposition leaders. Musayev of QMI also claimed that the Norwegian Royal Embassy supports Christian missionary activities in Azerbaijan. |