A/HRC/4/21/Add.2 page 7 22. Concerns were expressed regarding CMB’s role in selecting imams. Some groups and a political party’s representative interpreted it as a denial to the religious right of Muslims to select their own imam. They also pointed out that while CMB was itself not politically neutral, as it openly supported the ruling party, other imams were not free to support any of the political parties belonging to the opposition. 23. Besides Muslims, the most important religious communities are the Russian Orthodox Church and the Jewish community which is composed of three separate groups: “Mountain Jews” (descendants of refugees in the North) who account for approximately 11,000, the Ashkenazi (descendants of immigrants) who account for approximately 4,300 and a third small group of a few hundred Georgian Jews. 24. These three religious communities maintain an excellent relationship and have traditionally kept a close and continued contact. A number of interlocutors pointed out that Sheikhulislam, the head of the CMB, is hardly seen without his two “brothers” of the Jewish and Orthodox faith. 25. Other examples of interfaith engagement and good will were also brought to the attention of the Special Rapporteur. During the inauguration ceremony of a synagogue in the centre of Baku in March 2003, Sheikhulislam, the Bishop of Baku and other religious leaders participated along with high-ranking officials and dignitaries. The Sheikhulislam also donated funds for the building of the synagogue. Similarly, the visit of Pope John Paul II was enthusiastically welcomed by the three religious communities. 26. In addition to the three main communities that are often referred to as the “traditional” religions, there are a number of small religious communities or communities of belief that either have been established in the country for a long period of time such as the Molokans or groups that have established in Azerbaijan more recently, such as the Catholic community, the Bahá’í, Hare Krishna, the Seventh Day Adventists, Baptists, Lutherans, Jehovah’s Witnesses and other Christian minorities. Although these groups exist throughout the territory of Azerbaijan, they are mainly located in Baku. They are often criticized by a portion of the population of Azerbaijani that accuses them of having been imported and financed from abroad. 27. The Special Rapporteur was assured by interlocutors at the official level that no distinction was made between so-called “traditional” and “non-traditional” religious groups. At the same time representatives of some political parties and a few religious leaders expressed their discomfort at the “unethical” propaganda of “non-traditional” groups against Islam. IV. LEGAL FRAMEWORK 28. Azerbaijan is a secular State. According to article 18 of the Constitution, “religion shall be separated from the State in the Republic of Azerbaijan”. The law “On freedom of faith” (see paragraph 31 below) further emphasizes that, in the Republic, religion and religious associations shall be separated from the State, which prohibits, inter alia, religious associations from taking part in political activities (art. 5). This law also provides that the system of education is separated from religion (art. 6).