Tweet
RELEASE INTERNATIONAL: PRESSURE ON CHRISTIANS IN AZERBAIJAN GROWS; PASTORS ARE THREATENED AND PUT BEHIND BARS
http://www.panorama.am/en/society/2013/02/08/release-international/
11:32 08/02/2013 " SOCIETY
There is growing pressure on Christians in the former Soviet republic
and that tough new regulations have made it difficult for churches to
complete the necessary registration, the statement of the International
Organization on the Rights of Christian Release International says.
The organization stated that the registration process is "mired in
bureaucracy" and that applications are often refused. Churches without
the proper registration are considered illegal by the authorities
and exposed to crippling fines. Release chief executive Paul Robinson
said official registration had become the "biggest obstacle" facing
churches in Azerbaijan today.
The warning follows a recent fact-finding trip to the country by
Release workers, which included meeting local pastors and Christians.
A human rights lawyer who cannot be named for security reasons told
Release of one church that has been in Azerbaijan for 150 years and
always had the proper registration until 2009. "Now, after the change
to the Religion Law it's almost impossible for them to get registered,"
he said.
According to Release International one pastor received a visit to his
home from 30 police officers and officials who told him it was illegal
to spread the teachings of Jesus in Azerbaijan, despite religious
freedom being guaranteed in the constitution. He claims to have been
told he would be spared prison if he stopped his work as a Christian
evangelist. The pastor refused and was taken to court accused of
keeping weapons and was forced to spend 18 months behind bars.
"Azerbaijan is clamping down on all religious organizations - including
churches," Mr. Robinson said.
Another pastor explained that the Azerbaijani authorities are afraid
that if people [become Christians] they would prefer the interests of
Russia over those of Azerbaijan, while fundamentalist Muslims would
prefer the interests of Iran.
Another pastor told of how literature and Bibles were confiscated
from his unregistered church during a raid by police.
"In the court the same guys said we found this pistol in the kitchen.
They sentenced me to a year's imprisonment. It's very hard to be in
prison in Azerbaijan. It is very bad that the government puts godly
men into prison," he said.
However, according to Release International if there were only a
handful of Azerbaijani evangelical Christians in 1990, there are an
estimated 10,000 today.
U.S. State Department report on "Freedom of religion" says that
despite the fact that the Constitution of Azerbaijan provides freedom
of religion the laws and policies of the government restrict this
freedom in practice. Azerbaijani authorities carry out raids against
some religious organizations, confiscate religious materials, harass
and arrest members of the Muslim and Christian communities.
Moreover, during the registration the religious groups face burdensome
demands from the government. The registration process is a kind
of lever that is used by the authorities of Azerbaijan against the
unwanted religious groups. Those groups that are operating without
registration, are persecuted by the authorities, including fines
and court cases demanding their closure, the U.S. State Department
report said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
http://www.panorama.am/en/society/2013/02/08/release-international/
11:32 08/02/2013 " SOCIETY
There is growing pressure on Christians in the former Soviet republic
and that tough new regulations have made it difficult for churches to
complete the necessary registration, the statement of the International
Organization on the Rights of Christian Release International says.
The organization stated that the registration process is "mired in
bureaucracy" and that applications are often refused. Churches without
the proper registration are considered illegal by the authorities
and exposed to crippling fines. Release chief executive Paul Robinson
said official registration had become the "biggest obstacle" facing
churches in Azerbaijan today.
The warning follows a recent fact-finding trip to the country by
Release workers, which included meeting local pastors and Christians.
A human rights lawyer who cannot be named for security reasons told
Release of one church that has been in Azerbaijan for 150 years and
always had the proper registration until 2009. "Now, after the change
to the Religion Law it's almost impossible for them to get registered,"
he said.
According to Release International one pastor received a visit to his
home from 30 police officers and officials who told him it was illegal
to spread the teachings of Jesus in Azerbaijan, despite religious
freedom being guaranteed in the constitution. He claims to have been
told he would be spared prison if he stopped his work as a Christian
evangelist. The pastor refused and was taken to court accused of
keeping weapons and was forced to spend 18 months behind bars.
"Azerbaijan is clamping down on all religious organizations - including
churches," Mr. Robinson said.
Another pastor explained that the Azerbaijani authorities are afraid
that if people [become Christians] they would prefer the interests of
Russia over those of Azerbaijan, while fundamentalist Muslims would
prefer the interests of Iran.
Another pastor told of how literature and Bibles were confiscated
from his unregistered church during a raid by police.
"In the court the same guys said we found this pistol in the kitchen.
They sentenced me to a year's imprisonment. It's very hard to be in
prison in Azerbaijan. It is very bad that the government puts godly
men into prison," he said.
However, according to Release International if there were only a
handful of Azerbaijani evangelical Christians in 1990, there are an
estimated 10,000 today.
U.S. State Department report on "Freedom of religion" says that
despite the fact that the Constitution of Azerbaijan provides freedom
of religion the laws and policies of the government restrict this
freedom in practice. Azerbaijani authorities carry out raids against
some religious organizations, confiscate religious materials, harass
and arrest members of the Muslim and Christian communities.
Moreover, during the registration the religious groups face burdensome
demands from the government. The registration process is a kind
of lever that is used by the authorities of Azerbaijan against the
unwanted religious groups. Those groups that are operating without
registration, are persecuted by the authorities, including fines
and court cases demanding their closure, the U.S. State Department
report said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress