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U.S. Department of State: Azerbaijanâ€™s Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and other laws and policies contributed to the generally free practice of religion

20 September 2008 09:35 (UTC +04:00)

The report says that the Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and other laws and policies contributed to the generally free practice of religion. â€œThere was no change in the status of respect for religious freedom by the Government during the period covered by this report. Some religious groups reported delays in and denials of registration. There continued to be some limitations on the ability of groups to import religious literature. Most religious groups met without government interference; however, local authorities monitored religious services, and officials at times harassed and detained members of Islamic and "nontraditional" religious groups.â€
The reports says that the U.S. Government discusses religious freedom with the Government as part of its overall policy to promote human rights. According to official figures approximately 96 percent of the population is Muslim. Among the Muslim majority, religious observance is relatively low, and Muslim identity tends to be based more on culture and ethnicity than religion; however, there has been a gradual growth in the number of observant Muslims. According to the State Committee on Work with Religious Associations (SCWRA), the Muslim population is approximately 65 percent Shi’a and 35 percent Sunni; traditionally, differences are not defined sharply.

The Constitution provides that persons of all faiths may choose and practice their religion without restriction. Authorities generally permitted expatriate members of Christian groups in Baku to worship freely, but Azerbaijani Christian communities encountered obstacles. The Baptist churches in Neftchala and Aliabad (the latter has sought registration for approximately 15 years) were not able to obtain registration, with local notaries in Aliabad refusing to certify the Aliabad congregation’s registration applications. Authorities prevented Muslims from wearing headscarves in passport photos and other official identity documents. Individuals are not forbidden from wearing headscarves in educational facilities or at state facilities, according to the law.

According to the report, hostility between Armenians and Azerbaijanis, intensified by the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, remained strong. In those areas of the country controlled by ethnic Armenian separatists, all ethnic Azeris have fled, and the mosques that were not destroyed remained inactive.