Department of State: Azerbaijan restricts religious freedom

Despite the fact that Azerbaijan's Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, the government limits the rights of religious groups, and in particular non-traditional, stated the annual report of the US State Department, in the part regarding Azerbaijan.

"Officials restrict fundamental freedoms such as freedom of assembly and expression, and narrowed the space for civil society," said the report. Although there are no reliable data, the number of local observers recognized political prisoners - religious activists of 46 people (52 in 2014.) Periodic police raids  are conducted  among members of the religious community  "Jehovah's Witnesses", and followers of the Fatullah Gulen (Nur) and Salafi, the report said.

The State Department also draws attention to the special operation in November 2015 in the village of Nardaran, where 14 believers, including the leader of the movement "Muslim unity" Taleh Bagirzade were arrested.

 Then the village was blocked by security forces, and began mass searches and detentions; 38 people were detained, some were released without charge.

Movement "Muslim unity" is charged with threatening national security. However, human rights organizations have expressed doubts about the validity of the accusations. It creates obstacles to the registration of religious communities, the import of religious literature into the country, selling and distributing.  Seminars in support of religious tolerance are held.

According to the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations,  96% of the population  are Muslims; of them  65%  are  the Shiites, and  35%  are  Sunnis; 4% of the population are representatives of the Russian and Georgian Orthodox Church, the Armenian Apostolic Church, as well as other Christians, Malakans, Jews and bahaity.-03D06-