Religious freedom record worsening, US gov`t claims
The situation with religious freedom has
deteriorated in Azerbaijan, though the authorities continue to
respect the religious freedom of most citizens, with the exception
of unconventional religious communities, the US government has
claimed.
According to the State Department`s annual report, two of the changes introduced to the country`s Constitution in the March 18 referendum limit freedom of religion. Moreover, the Milli Majlis (parliament) on May 8 endorsed amendments to a relevant law which could create further obstacles to the registration of religious communities, the report said.
The State Department also maintained that some mosques were shut down and raids were conducted to clamp down on Evangelical Protestant groups, and there are circulating reports about pressure and arrests of Islamic and unconventional Christian community representatives.
The report, which covers up to 200 countries, also points to the impact of the conflict with Armenia on the situation with religious freedom in Azerbaijan.
``There is bitter hostility between the Armenians and Azeris. Azeris have been ousted from the territories controlled by Armenian separatists, mosques destroyed and the ones that weren`t have ceased to operate,`` the report says.
Rabiyyat Aslanova, chairwoman of the Milli Majlis (parliament) committee on human rights, disagreed with the content of the State Department`s report. She said the amendments made to the national laws were progressive, noting that Azerbaijan could serve as a model for the U.S. in terms of religious tolerance.
``We need alternative reports. Perhaps, other countries` not daring to produce alternative reports and other institutions` staying out of the matter empowers the State Department to consider itself a major expert on this. But it looks like this expert is working with very old stereotypes,`` Aslanova concluded.
Assessing the situation in other countries, the report said that, though dialog has improved among people of various creeds in Iran, North Korea and Uzbekistan, religious reprisals persist in those countries. Official persecution of religious minorities has increased in Iran, while in Uzbekistan one can be prosecuted for spreading religious literature.
According to the State Department`s annual report, two of the changes introduced to the country`s Constitution in the March 18 referendum limit freedom of religion. Moreover, the Milli Majlis (parliament) on May 8 endorsed amendments to a relevant law which could create further obstacles to the registration of religious communities, the report said.
The State Department also maintained that some mosques were shut down and raids were conducted to clamp down on Evangelical Protestant groups, and there are circulating reports about pressure and arrests of Islamic and unconventional Christian community representatives.
The report, which covers up to 200 countries, also points to the impact of the conflict with Armenia on the situation with religious freedom in Azerbaijan.
``There is bitter hostility between the Armenians and Azeris. Azeris have been ousted from the territories controlled by Armenian separatists, mosques destroyed and the ones that weren`t have ceased to operate,`` the report says.
Rabiyyat Aslanova, chairwoman of the Milli Majlis (parliament) committee on human rights, disagreed with the content of the State Department`s report. She said the amendments made to the national laws were progressive, noting that Azerbaijan could serve as a model for the U.S. in terms of religious tolerance.
``We need alternative reports. Perhaps, other countries` not daring to produce alternative reports and other institutions` staying out of the matter empowers the State Department to consider itself a major expert on this. But it looks like this expert is working with very old stereotypes,`` Aslanova concluded.
Assessing the situation in other countries, the report said that, though dialog has improved among people of various creeds in Iran, North Korea and Uzbekistan, religious reprisals persist in those countries. Official persecution of religious minorities has increased in Iran, while in Uzbekistan one can be prosecuted for spreading religious literature.
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