Azerbaijani MoD recommends soldiers not to fast during Ramadan

The Azerbaijani Ministry of Defence (MoD) has recommended its servicemen to refrain from fasting during the month of Ramadan – from June 29 to July 28. Several experts have expressed the opinion that this recommendation violates the provisions of the country's Constitution.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told at the press service of the MoD that "the commanders of military units hold consultations with soldiers' parents, public activists and religious leaders and attract them to the educational actions aimed to clarify the influence of fasting on the human body from the physical and psychological viewpoints, and with the account of the specifics of the military service."

A theologian Ilgar Ibragimoglu, the head of the Centre for Protection of Freedom of Conscience and Religion (known as DEVAMM), has criticized the restriction imposed on the army to observe the fasting imposed by the country's MoD.

"This step is the MoD is deeply regrettable and worrying. It's actually another form of legitimization of the ban on the fasting-Oruj. That is, they say, 'we don't ban the Oruj, but we conduct educational work on inexpediency of the Oruj," said the Ibragimoglu's statement as quoted by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The theologian has regarded the MoD's recommendation as a violation of the religious freedom, guaranteed by the Constitution of Azerbaijan, and in general – as a human rights violation.