U.S. State Department: Religious freedom in Azerbaijan continues to be violated
In the U.S. annual International Religious Freedom Report notes that the religious freedom in Azerbaijan is still violated.
“In Azerbaijan, the government placed restrictions on members of religious groups it considered “nontraditional,” including Jehovah’s Witnesses and unsanctioned Muslim religious organizations,” the report says.
According to the document religious registration requirements left unregistered groups, particularly those considered “nontraditional” by the government, vulnerable to police harassment, fines, and closures mandated by court decisions.
The document also notes that people are arrested in Azerbaijan for their religious beliefs; publication and distribution of literature on religious topics is limited.
“A number of mosques such as the Shahidlar Mosque in Baku, Sunni Juma mosque in Ganja, Fatima Zahra Shia congregation’s mosque in the Yeni Guneshli remained closed,” the report said.
Secretary of State John Kerry stated that everyone has the right of religious freedom and ensuring the religious freedom in the world is the number one concern of the USA.
According to the document the religious freedom is mainly violated in Myanmar, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Uzbekistan.