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THE SITUATION OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IS BAD IN AZERBAIJAN
http://www.yerkirmedia.am/?act=news&lan=en&id=8786
12:02 . 31/07
"The constitution of the Republic of Armenia protects religious
freedom, and in practice the government generally respected religious
freedom," the 2011 Report on Religious Freedom of the US State
Department says.
"Some laws and policies restrict the religious freedom of members of
religious groups, but the government generally did not enforce these
legal restrictions." At the same time, it is stated in the report that
the Armenian government did not demonstrate a trend toward either
improvement or deterioration in respect for and protection of the
right to religious freedom.
The situation in this sphere is bad in Azerbaijan, where, according to
the State Department, the authorities confiscated religious materials,
and harassed and detained some members of Muslim and Christian groups.
There were reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on
religious affiliation, belief, or practice.
Though the state department says Turkey is a more democratic country
than Azerbaijan, but two incidents, the murder of Hrant Dink in 2007
and the murder of Armenian serviceman Sevag Balikci on April 24 were
mentioned in the list of religious and ethnic intolerances.
Touching upon the religious freedom in Georgia, the report states
though there were no reports on serious violations of religious
freedom, some systemic issues remained largely unchanged such as the
return and maintenance of disputed church property claimed by religious
minority groups. In this respect, especially the Armenian Apostolic
Church is mentioned, (Armenians are the third largest ethnic group
(6 percent of the population) and primarily belong to the AAC).
The main concern of the church is the return of five churches in
Tbilisi and one in Akhaltsikhe. However, the status of at least 30
other churches claimed by the AAC remained in dispute. Mughni Surb
Gevorg is also touched upon in the report. It is said though the
Ministry of Culture allocated 9,895 lari ($6,925) for renovation of a
disputed church building, Mughni Surb Gevorg, AAC reported no further
action was taken on the church's restoration.
The State Department says in the report the situation of religious
freedom has improved in Russia, but Russia is still in the list of
countries, where there are problems in the sphere. Besides the Russian
Federation, the list also includes Afghanistan, Vietnam, Iran, China,
Cuba, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, Syria, Sudan, Uzbekistan
and Eritrea.
http://www.yerkirmedia.am/?act=news&lan=en&id=8786
12:02 . 31/07
"The constitution of the Republic of Armenia protects religious
freedom, and in practice the government generally respected religious
freedom," the 2011 Report on Religious Freedom of the US State
Department says.
"Some laws and policies restrict the religious freedom of members of
religious groups, but the government generally did not enforce these
legal restrictions." At the same time, it is stated in the report that
the Armenian government did not demonstrate a trend toward either
improvement or deterioration in respect for and protection of the
right to religious freedom.
The situation in this sphere is bad in Azerbaijan, where, according to
the State Department, the authorities confiscated religious materials,
and harassed and detained some members of Muslim and Christian groups.
There were reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on
religious affiliation, belief, or practice.
Though the state department says Turkey is a more democratic country
than Azerbaijan, but two incidents, the murder of Hrant Dink in 2007
and the murder of Armenian serviceman Sevag Balikci on April 24 were
mentioned in the list of religious and ethnic intolerances.
Touching upon the religious freedom in Georgia, the report states
though there were no reports on serious violations of religious
freedom, some systemic issues remained largely unchanged such as the
return and maintenance of disputed church property claimed by religious
minority groups. In this respect, especially the Armenian Apostolic
Church is mentioned, (Armenians are the third largest ethnic group
(6 percent of the population) and primarily belong to the AAC).
The main concern of the church is the return of five churches in
Tbilisi and one in Akhaltsikhe. However, the status of at least 30
other churches claimed by the AAC remained in dispute. Mughni Surb
Gevorg is also touched upon in the report. It is said though the
Ministry of Culture allocated 9,895 lari ($6,925) for renovation of a
disputed church building, Mughni Surb Gevorg, AAC reported no further
action was taken on the church's restoration.
The State Department says in the report the situation of religious
freedom has improved in Russia, but Russia is still in the list of
countries, where there are problems in the sphere. Besides the Russian
Federation, the list also includes Afghanistan, Vietnam, Iran, China,
Cuba, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, Syria, Sudan, Uzbekistan
and Eritrea.