14:00, 20 March 2010

Jehovah's Witnesses fined in Azerbaijan

On March 3, the militia of Azerbaijan detained two Jehovah's Witnesses and fined each of them by the sum equal to the average salary for three weeks that is, by 200 manats (about 250 US dollars).

Jehovah's Witnesses Famil Nasirov and Amina Mammadova were detained in Baku after they talked about their faith with their neighbours; and on that very day they were brought to court. The verdict runs that they "disseminated religious literature produced or imported without a permit of the respective state agency," the "Credo.ru" reports.

The assistant of the judge who dealt with this case but did not name himself said that the verdict was passed "according to the law". "If the Jehovah's Witnesses aren't happy with the verdict, they may address the Appeal Court in Baku," he added.

The "Forum 18" reports that the assistant refused to discuss how fines for religious activity meet Azerbaijani international obligations on human rights in the area of the freedom of religion or faith.