The Araks Armenian newspaper in Tehran reports that protestors in Tabriz last week condemned Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev for conducting anti-Islamic acts and demanded that he “free Karabakh” instead.

The demonstrations were sparked by news that Aliyev had allowed for a homosexual parade to take place in Baku on the sidelines of the upcoming Eurovision competition.

Protests were organized by local religious leaders, in particular Ayatollah Mohsen Mojtahed Shabestari, the Friday prayer leader in Tabriz.

“Holding the homosexual parade in a country which most of its population consisted of Muslims is literally disappointing,” the Islamic cleric declared.

The Republic of Azerbaijan has the second highest Shia population after Iran.