Conference of European Rabbis convention in Azerbaijan canceled over security concerns, organizers say

A planned convention of the Conference of European Rabbis set to be held next week in Baku, Azerbaijan, has been canceled due to security concerns, organizers say.

In a letter, the organization thanks the Azerbaijani government for having agreed to host the event.

The event had been expected to attract hundreds of participants from Europe, Israel, the United States, and other countries.

The conference, which would have been the first of its kind to take place in a Muslim country, was planned as a display of interfaith cooperation. Promotional material for the gathering said it would address “the Abraham Accords, the promotion of freedom of religion, and the crucial fight against antisemitism in Europe.”

However, in recent days, Arab leaders, including the head of Turkey’s Homeland Party, Dogu Perincek, have called for the event to be canceled, warning that it served the interests of the United States and Israel.

A previous conference by the organization in Sarajevo was also canceled in June, following similar protests.

No word has been given on whether the conference will be rescheduled.