Freedom of religion in Azerbaijan
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Freedom of religion in Azerbaijan is substantially curtailed.[1][2] The Azerbaijan government, which follows a strictly secular and anti-religious ideology, represses all religions.[1]
The majority of the population in Azerbaijan is Muslim, mainly Shia. According to Michigan State University political scientist Ani Sarkissian, "the Azerbaijani government attempts to control religious practice to keep it from becoming an independent social force that might threaten the nondemocratic nature of the regime."[1]
The government censors religious literature and closes down religious institutions that it considers objectionable.[1] Political speech by religious institutions is forbidden and clerics are not allowed to run for political office.[1] The display of religious paraphernalia, flags and slogans, is forbidden, except in places of worship, religious centers and offices.[3] Ashura festivities in public are forbidden.[4] The wearing of the hijab in public institutions and schools is forbidden.[5][6]
The government uses mosque closures to repress independent Muslim groups that act independently of the state.[1] Clerics that act in ways objectionable to the state face dismissal and arrest.[1] The government does not restrict religious conversion, but it does forbid proselytizing.[1]
Religious demography
The country has an area of 33,436 square miles (86,600 km2)
According to the
In 2020, research
The vast majority of
Of a total
Shi'a, Sunni, Russian Orthodox, and Jews are considered to be the country's "traditional" religious groups. Small congregations of
In the last decade, a number of religious groups considered foreign or "nontraditional" by the Azeri regime have established a presence, including "
Restrictions on religion
In 2022, the European Court of Human Rights found the government violated individual freedom of religion or belief in cases involving seven individuals. At the end of the year, 22 individuals were detained due to their religious beliefs or practices.[18]
In 2023, the country was scored zero out of four for religious freedom by Freedom House.[2]
In 2019, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom reported the arrest of 77 individuals labelled as "Shia extremists", of which 48 were considered political prisoners by human rights defenders, they also reported that in court hearings throughout the year, these individuals testified that police and other officials tortured them to coerce false confessions. Local human rights groups and others stated the government continued to physically abuse, arrest, and imprison religious activists. Authorities briefly detained, fined, or warned individuals for holding unauthorized religious meetings; as the government’s requirements for legal registration were unachievable for communities with less than 50 members. The government controls the importation, distribution, and sale of religious materials. The courts fined individuals for the unauthorized sale or distribution of religious materials.[19]
Civil society representatives stated citizens continued to tolerate “traditional” minority religious groups (i.e., those historically present in the country), including Jews, Russian Orthodox, and Catholics; however, groups viewed as “nontraditional” were often viewed with suspicion and mistrust.[19]
Despite being Shia majority country, the ruling regime of Ilham Aliyev regularly and aggressively enforces secularism. Azeri officials regularly blame Iran of spreading its Khomeinist ideology amongst Azeri Shi'ites, through its network of supporters in Azerbaijan.[20][21] Azerbaijanis are forbidden to study in Iran-funded hawzas , Azeri women are discouraged and forbidden from mandatory Islamic veiling, alcohol such as beer and wine are domestically produced and regularly consumed, yearly Ashura commemorations are scrutinised and often banned.
Inter-religious activities
Pope Francis visited Azerbaijan in October 2016.[22]
See also
- Religion in Azerbaijan
- Human rights in Azerbaijan
- State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations of Azerbaijan Republic
References
- ^ ISBN 978-0-19-934808-4.
- ^ a b Freedom House website, Retrieved 2023-08-01
- ^ "В Азербайджане запретят мулл, обучавшихся за границей (Azerbaijan has banned mullahs studying abroad)" (in Russian). Oxu.az. 2 December 2015.
- ^ "В Азербайджане запрещают различные представления в дни Ашура (Azerbaijan will forbid various representations in the days of Ashura)" (in Russian). Oxu.az. 2 December 2015.
- ^ "Secularism and Islam: new religious education in Azerbaijan". Zois-Berlin.de. 2019-10-30.
- ^ "Azerbaijan to toughen school hijab ban enforcement". Business Recorder. 2024-08-15.
- ISBN 978-1135950743. Archived from the originalon October 30, 2017. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
- ^ "UNdata | country profile | Azerbaijan". data.un.org. Retrieved 2017-10-30.
- ^ "Population of Azerbaijan". The State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Retrieved 2017-10-30.
- ^ "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Azerbaijan". U.S Department of State. 2 June 2022. Archived from the original on 4 June 2022.
According to 2011 SCWRA data (the most recent available), 96 percent of the population is Muslim, of which approximately 65 percent is Shia and 35 percent Sunni.
- ^ "International Religious Freedom Report for 2016". www.state.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-30.
- ISBN 9781498568364.)
the country's population historically divided between the Shia (currently some 50-65 percent of the population) and the Sunni (about 35-50 percent).
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: CS1 maint: location (link - ^ Greenger, Nurit (8 May 2017). "Azerbaijan a Destination Worthwhile. My week travel log in Azerbaijan - Day two". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 19 January 2023.
- ^ Balci, Bayram (18 March 2013). "The Syrian Crisis: A View from Azerbaijan". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Archived from the original on 18 January 2022.
- ISBN 978-90-04-25456-5.)
quote:"While traditionally approximately 65% of local Muslims are considered Shi'i and 35% Sunnis, due to a great success of international Sunni missionary organisations after the collapse of the Soviet Union, currently the estimated number of practicising Sunni and Shi'i Muslims in the big urban areas are almost equal"
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - ^ Association of Religion Data Archives website, Retrieved 2023-08-01
- ^ "Middle East :: Azerbaijan — The World Factbook". Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
- ^ US State Dept 2022 report
- ^ a b One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: "Azerbaijan". United States Department of State 2019 report. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
- ^ Kucera, Joshua (20 Sep 2018). "Azerbaijani Shias gather for Ashura, under close watch from the state". eurasianet. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- S2CID 199293670.
- ^ "Pope Francis visits oil-rich Azerbaijan | News | DW | 02.10.2016". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 2017-10-30.
- United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. Azerbaijan: International Religious Freedom Report 2007. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- Forum 18 Religious Freedom Survey, September 2008
- Article on Forum18 [1].