President of Azerbaijan proposes to toughen punishment for anti-state crimes

The Azerbaijani Parliament has received a draft law on criminalizing attempts to change the constitutional order and to violate the territorial integrity of the country on the basis of religious fanaticism and hatred.

In particular, according to a source from the Azerbaijani Parliament, the new article provides for liability for the actions aimed at violent change of the constitutional system of Azerbaijan, including its secular character, at seizure of power and at violation of the territorial integrity of the country on the grounds of religious hatred, radicalism, and fanaticism. Under the new article, such actions shall involve sentence to 15-20 years or life imprisonment, the "APA" reports.

Namizad Safarov, a member of the National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF), doubts the feasibility of adoption of amendments.

The expert believes that the proposed innovations "are aimed at intimidation of the society, especially believers." According to him, the introduction of a new article may result in persecution of religious figures.

The amendments are developed in connection with the adoption at the end of the past year of a package of changes to the legislation for combating terrorism and religious extremism. This opinion was voiced by Alesker Mamedli, an expert in the field of law, a member of the public association "Civil Society Platform".

However, Alesker Mamedli expresses doubts that in Azerbaijan, there is a ground for religious radicalism, threatening the foundations of the secular order.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.