News in april 2021

6 April

The OIC delegation visits the liberated territories

A delegation of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) arrived in Agdam today and performed namaz in the Juma mosque.

The members of the delegation arrived in Azerbaijan to get acquainted with the state of affairs in the liberated territories and the consequences of Armenia’s aggression against Azerbaijan.

7 April

Visit of CMO Chairman Allahshukur Pashazade and heads of religious confessions of Azerbaijan to Barda and Agdam

The heads of the religious communities of Azerbaijan led by Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Office (CMO) Allahshukur Pashazade arrived in Barda.

The delegation of religious leaders also includes members of the Gazi Council, heads of the Community of Mountain Jews Milikh Yevdayev and the Community of European Jews Alexander Sharovsky, ordinary of the Apostolic Prefecture of the Roman Catholic Church Vladimir Fekete, head of the Albanian-Udi community Robert Mobili, and representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The members of the delegation have firstly visited Alley of Martyrs in Barda within the framework of the visit and prayed for souls of heroes, who sacrificed their lives for the Homeland. Delegation has visited Juma Mosque in Barda.

CMO Chairman and heads of religious confessions, who will visit Agdam later, will pay a visit to Agdam Juma Mosque and pray a salah there.

13 April

The arrangements for religious education are defined

Parliament of Azerbaijan

The religious educational institutions would be established by the Religious Centre (department) in agreement with the body (institution) determined by the relevant executive authority. An amendment to the “Law on Freedom of Religious Belief” has been proposed to this effect. According to the draft law, a Religious Centre (Department) may establish only one Higher Religious Educational Institution.

According to the draft law, the Religious Higher Education Institutions and Religious Secondary Specialised Education Institutions will operate on the basis of a licence issued in compliance with the “Law on Licences and Permits”. Those studying at the religious educational institutions will be granted the rights and privileges determined for the students at the state educational institutions.

13 April

Mass visit to sacred places in foreign countries to be only organized by religious centers

A requirement on regular visits of religious persons to the places, which are situated in foreign countries and considered sacred for relevant religions, for praying is determined, it has been reflected in the amendment suggested for the law “On freedom of religious beliefs”.

According to the draft law, regular visits of religious persons to the places, which are situated in foreign countries and considered sacred for relevant religions, for praying are organized by relevant religious centers (offices) and the office, determined by the relevant executive power body, should be informed in this regard.

13 April

Requirements for religious rituals, ceremonies and events are set in Azerbaijan

The requirements for conducting large-scale religious rites, ceremonies and events are established in Azerbaijan.

It is therefore suggested to add a new Article 6-1 to the Law. From now on, the mass religious rites, ceremonies and events (funerals, commemoration, iftar, religious marriage ceremonies) will be held inside the religious temples and sanctuaries.

The new article 6.1 will also provide that mass religious rites, ceremonies and events (funerals, commemoration, iftar, religious marriage ceremonies, except for ehsan and mawlid) will be held outside religious temples and sanctuaries only with the approval of the body (organization) determined by the relevant executive authority.

13 April

Forcing children to practice a religion being prohibited

Forcing children to practice religion is prohibited, it has been reflected in the amendment to the law on freedom of religious belief.

According to the draft, religious upbringing of children should not impact their physical and psychological health.

14 April

The Caucasus Board of Muslims Internet TV channel has started its broadcasting

Logo of the Internet TV Channel “114 TV”

From the first day of the month of Ramadan (14 April), it was launched the Internet TV Channel “114 TV”, a new project of the Caucasus Muslim Board (CBM). As Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, the Head of the UMC, said to the media the number “114″ in the channel’s name was related to the number of surahs of the Koran.

The goals and objectives of the new Internet TV channel were stated as follows,

“The Internet TV channel has been launched today in connection with the month of Ramadan. Daily, half an hour prior to iftar, a discussion programme on the subject of Ramadan will be aired. Our activities will be continued even after Ramadan. There will be broadcast programmes regarding the UMK activities as well as the religious enlightenment ones”.

16 April

Members of the Albano-Udi Christian community will perform Easter services in the temple in Tug

Members of the Albano-Udi Christian religious community of Azerbaijan, the successor to the Albanian Apostolic Independent Church, are making a trip to the Khojavend region liberated from occupation.

In particular, they will visit the ancient Albanian temple in the village of Tug and perform here a religious ceremony on the Easter holiday.

The trip was organized by the Foundation for the Promotion of Spiritual Values, under the State Committee for Work with Religious Structures.

20 April

Parents of those accused of financing ISIS staged a protest

On 20 April 2021, the Grave Crimes Court continued the trial of Samir Gorbunov and 10 more persons accused of financing the terrorist organization ISIS.

According to the parents of the defendants, they are on a hunger strike for 50 days, protesting against the unjustified criminal prosecution.

Today they were brought to trial in handcuffs because at the meeting on February 23 in court they inflicted cuts on themselves with cutting objects.

After the meeting, the parents of the accused went to the presidential administration to protest against the persecution of their children, but the police blocked their way.

The parents claimed that as a result of the hunger strike, Babek Mammadli, Aladdin Amir and Aflatun Bayramov lost 20 kg.

The defendants in this case Aladdin Ibishev, Shahriyar Jabbarov, Aflatun Bayramov, Elgun Ismayilov, Tehran Qasimov, Orkhan Qurbanov, Amin Hasanov, Javid Amanov, Yusif Imanov, Samir Qurbanov and Babek Mammadli were arrested several years ago on charges of participating in the war illegal armed groups. They are charged with Articles 167-2.2.1 (Illegal production, import and distribution of religious literature), 167-3.1 (Illegal circulation of religious extremist literature), 214 (Terrorism) and 218 (Creation of a criminal community) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan Republic.

The trial began in February 2020. However, due to the pandemic, the trial was interrupted for a long time.

21 April

Parents of defendants in ISIS financing case protest in front of the US Embassy

On 21 April 2021 parents and relatives of a group of persons accused of financing terrorism tried to hold a protest in front of the US Embassy in Baku.

They believe that their children have been arrested on trumped-up charges and they demand their release. Parents are also concerned about the health of their children, who have been refusing food for more than 50 days. Babek Mammadli, Aladdin Ibishev and Aflatun Bayramov, according to their relatives, have lost a lot of weight.

However, the police stopped the action. Several people were taken to the 21st department of the Nasimi district police department.

The trial began in February 2020. However, due to the pandemic, the trial was interrupted for a long time.

The trial resumed this year and at one of the sessions, the defendants inflicted cut wounds on themselves, protesting against the unjustified arrest.

22 April

USCIRF Pitches Adding Azerbaijan to State Department’s Special Watch List

The U.S. religious freedom body USCIRF recommends Azerbaijan, along with 11 other countries, be added to the State Department’s Special Watch (SW) List, for “their governments’ perpetration or toleration” of severe violations of religious freedom.

The bipartisan commission, created in 1998 to make policy recommendations to the U.S. President, Secretary of State and Congress about global religious freedom, has been including Azerbaijan on its SW list for the second time in a row. Other 11 countries on this year’s SW list include: Cuba, Nicaragua, Afghanistan, Algeria, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Turkey, and Uzbekistan.

In its annual report issued on Wednesday in Washington D.C. the USCIRF mentioned that some countries used the COVID-19 pandemic to target religious minorities last year. Among its findings, the federal organization said that some governments targeted religious minorities through misinformation campaigns or with disproportionate restrictions during the pandemic.

In Azerbaijan, the government “continued to imprison individuals related to their religious activism,” the report claims. Local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that maintain lists of political prisoners in the country estimate that between 43 and 51 current prisoners are religious activists.

“In 2020, authorities released at least three religious prisoners, including Shi’a Muslim imam Sardar Babayev, who had served his full sentence, and two others released in consideration of the COVID-19 threat. Members of the Muslim Unity Movement (MUM) announced that the government subjected them to increased pressure during the year through summonses, detentions, and arrests on questionable or politically motivated grounds.”

“In one instance, authorities reportedly detained and then arrested alleged MUM member Elvin Muradov for poems and songs he had written about imprisoned MUM leader Taleh Bagirzade. Throughout the year, Rahim Akhundov pursued a lawsuit alleging that he was discriminated against and forcibly dismissed from his position as a staffer at the National Assembly due to his identity as a Christian and role as pastor of a house church. In January, a judge ruled his case inadmissible in a decision that the Baku Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court upheld in June and September, respectively.”

The report also recommends the U.S. Congress to hold public hearings to investigate Azerbaijan’s religious freedom and broader human rights abuses, including its treatment of the MUM; raise related concerns directly with the Azerbaijani Embassy and other government officials; and advocate for the release of all prisoners of conscience.