09:00, 9 May 2009

Azerbaijani authorities strengthen religion control

On May 8, the Parliament of Azerbaijan passed amendments to the law "On Freedom of Religion", which stipulated stronger control over the religion sphere. The amendments assume re-registration of all religion communities and specify the mechanisms of their registration cancellation.

The amendments and additions to the Law were submitted by the Parliamentary Commission on Human Rights. Rabiyat Aslanova, head of the Commission, has explained that the Law "On Freedom of Religion", adopted in 1992, did not reflect today's realities. "There're such religion sects, forbidden in the countries of Europe, but freely operating in Azerbaijan," she said.

Besides, the Law legalizes the order, under which for state registration of a Muslim religion community an opinion of the Department of Moslems of Caucasus (DMC) is required. Earlier, the absence of this provision allowed some communities to challenge the supreme role of the DMC, viewed by them as an ordinary NGO.

In Azerbaijan today, 533 religion communities, 32 of which are non-Muslim, are registered.

Author: Faik Medzhid

Source: CK correspondent