Parliament passes changes to religion law
The Azerbaijani parliament on Friday introduced over
ten amendments and addenda to the Law on Freedom of Religious
Faith.
Rabiyyat Aslanova, chairwoman of the standing Milli Majlis committee on human rights, said prior to their adoption the recent changes to the Constitution had necessitated revisiting the law.
According to the approved amendments, the spread of creeds insulting human dignity or contradicting the principles of humanism is banned. Moreover, religious communities operating in Azerbaijan will be required to re-register by September 1.
Aslanova said that national security required making some clarifications regarding registration of such entities. She said the following questions should be answered in the process.
"For what purpose is this religious community being set up? Who is establishing it? What are its intentions? You know, this is extremely important from the standpoint of protecting national security and the values of Islam, one of our key set of values."
The State Committee for Work with Religious Associations has been granted additional responsibilities. Also, the law has been supplemented with nine provisions regarding the cancellation of the religious communities` registration. The provisions stipulate that a religious community may be annulled by a decision of its founders upon a motion filed in court by executive bodies, in cases of compulsory conversion to faith; if obstacles are imposed for secular education; and in the event of actions aimed at committing terrorism or in its financing.
Aslanova said the first addendum to the religion law was introduced in 1997 when foreign nationals and persons without citizenship were forbidden to conduct religious propaganda. However, the measure did not allow for the thwarting of "harmful missionary activities."
"There are religious sects that are banned in European countries but are freely operating in Azerbaijan," the MP said.
According to Aslanova, a large number of mosques were built in Azerbaijan after the republic gained independence, and their number has now reached 1,750. "But only 800 of these mosques are operating, while the activity of 150 of them is seasonal, in other words, they are open only for religious ceremonies. The remaining mosques are protected as religious monuments."
The lawmaker emphasized, for comparison`s sake, that only 18 mosques were operating in the republic during the Soviet period.
The number of mosques began to rapidly increase in Azerbaijan after the USSR`s collapse in 1991. Most of the mosques built in the early years of Azerbaijan`s independence were not even registered by the state. The problem has not found its solution in recent years either, and only 500 mosques operating in the country have undergone registration.
Hidayat Orujov, Chairman of the State Committee for Work with Religious Associations, noted that the majority of mosques are built by organizations with the backing of foreign countries. According to Orujov, 92 mosques were built in Azerbaijan by other states in the early years of the republic`s independence, including 24 by Turkey, 63 by Kuwait, three by Saudi Arabia, and one each by Iran and Qatar.
Orujov said that initially, those mosques were managed by the countries carrying out construction operations, and their activity complied with their laws. However, as a result of the work done, all of the shrines were taken under state control.
Currently, foreign clerics do not serve at the mosques built by other countries. Only six Imams who are Turkish citizens have been granted permission to work in Azerbaijan. Moreover, the number of such clerics has considerably dropped compared to past years, and Turkish nationals whose employment contracts have expired are being replaced with Azerbaijani Imams.
Rabiyyat Aslanova, chairwoman of the standing Milli Majlis committee on human rights, said prior to their adoption the recent changes to the Constitution had necessitated revisiting the law.
According to the approved amendments, the spread of creeds insulting human dignity or contradicting the principles of humanism is banned. Moreover, religious communities operating in Azerbaijan will be required to re-register by September 1.
Aslanova said that national security required making some clarifications regarding registration of such entities. She said the following questions should be answered in the process.
"For what purpose is this religious community being set up? Who is establishing it? What are its intentions? You know, this is extremely important from the standpoint of protecting national security and the values of Islam, one of our key set of values."
The State Committee for Work with Religious Associations has been granted additional responsibilities. Also, the law has been supplemented with nine provisions regarding the cancellation of the religious communities` registration. The provisions stipulate that a religious community may be annulled by a decision of its founders upon a motion filed in court by executive bodies, in cases of compulsory conversion to faith; if obstacles are imposed for secular education; and in the event of actions aimed at committing terrorism or in its financing.
Aslanova said the first addendum to the religion law was introduced in 1997 when foreign nationals and persons without citizenship were forbidden to conduct religious propaganda. However, the measure did not allow for the thwarting of "harmful missionary activities."
"There are religious sects that are banned in European countries but are freely operating in Azerbaijan," the MP said.
According to Aslanova, a large number of mosques were built in Azerbaijan after the republic gained independence, and their number has now reached 1,750. "But only 800 of these mosques are operating, while the activity of 150 of them is seasonal, in other words, they are open only for religious ceremonies. The remaining mosques are protected as religious monuments."
The lawmaker emphasized, for comparison`s sake, that only 18 mosques were operating in the republic during the Soviet period.
The number of mosques began to rapidly increase in Azerbaijan after the USSR`s collapse in 1991. Most of the mosques built in the early years of Azerbaijan`s independence were not even registered by the state. The problem has not found its solution in recent years either, and only 500 mosques operating in the country have undergone registration.
Hidayat Orujov, Chairman of the State Committee for Work with Religious Associations, noted that the majority of mosques are built by organizations with the backing of foreign countries. According to Orujov, 92 mosques were built in Azerbaijan by other states in the early years of the republic`s independence, including 24 by Turkey, 63 by Kuwait, three by Saudi Arabia, and one each by Iran and Qatar.
Orujov said that initially, those mosques were managed by the countries carrying out construction operations, and their activity complied with their laws. However, as a result of the work done, all of the shrines were taken under state control.
Currently, foreign clerics do not serve at the mosques built by other countries. Only six Imams who are Turkish citizens have been granted permission to work in Azerbaijan. Moreover, the number of such clerics has considerably dropped compared to past years, and Turkish nationals whose employment contracts have expired are being replaced with Azerbaijani Imams.
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