Editing Separation of church and state (section)

===Azerbaijan===
[[File:Azerbaijan Republic map.png|thumb|Azerbaijan and its main cities]]
[[Islam]] is the dominant religion in Azerbaijan, with 96% of Azerbaijanis being [[Muslim]], Shia being in the majority. However, Azerbaijan is officially a secular state. According to the Constitution of Azerbaijan, the state and mosque are separate. Article 7 of the Constitution defines the Azerbaijani state as a democratic, legal, secular, unitary republic. Therefore, the Constitution provides freedom of religions and beliefs.

The Azerbaijani State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations controls the relations between the state and religions.

Ethnic minorities such as [[Russians]], [[Georgians]], [[Jews]], [[Lezgis]], [[Avars (Caucasus)|Avars]], [[Udis]] and [[Kurds]] with different religious beliefs to Islam all live in [[Azerbaijan]]. Several religions are practiced in Azerbaijan. There are many Orthodox and Catholic churches in different regions of Azerbaijan.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.counterextremism.com/sites/default/files/Secularism_in_Azerbaijan_June%202015.pdf |title=Secularism in Azerbaijan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803174257/https://www.counterextremism.com/sites/default/files/Secularism_in_Azerbaijan_June%202015.pdf |archive-date=2016-08-03 |language=en |date=June 2015 |publisher=[[European Foundation for Democracy]] |access-date=19 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://studies.aljazeera.net/en/reports/2015/10/20151015112738701335.html|title=Azerbaijan: Religious Pluralism and Challenges of Cultivating Identity|first=Dr. Fatima|last=Al-Smadi|website=studies.aljazeera.net|access-date=2017-11-09|archive-date=2017-11-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110161846/http://studies.aljazeera.net/en/reports/2015/10/20151015112738701335.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://visions.az/en/news/483/75eb2f55/|title=Visions of Azerbaijan Magazine ::: Islam and Secularism – the Azerbaijani Experience|website=Visions of Azerbaijan Magazine|access-date=2022-05-11|archive-date=2022-03-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303135323/http://www.visions.az/en/news/483/75eb2f55|url-status=live}}</ref> At the same time, the Azerbaijani government has been frequently accused of desecrating Armenian Christian heritage and appropriating Armenian churches on its territory.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://monumentwatch.org/en/alerts/representatives-of-the-albanian-udi-community-of-azerbaijan-desecrated-and-destroyed-the-unique-pit-inside-the-armenian-church-of-the-tsitsernavank-monastery-in-the-kashatagh-region-of-artsakh/ | title=Representatives of the "Albanian-Udi" community of Azerbaijan desecrated and destroyed the unique pit inside the Armenian church of the Tsitsernavank monastery in the Kashatagh region of Artsakh | date=8 May 2023 }}</ref>{{better source needed|date=May 2024}}