Religion

Religion

State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations: The report of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance doesnâ€™t reflect the real situation in the country and is superficial

08 June 2011 14:03 (UTC +04:00)

The statement sent to APA by the press service of the committee says that the report is assessed as one of the efforts made towards the protection of human rights and this initiative is regarded as positive.
â€œThe â€œReligious groupsâ€ section of the recent report contains a number of positive factors.â€

The statement says that in defiance of those written in the report, there is no religious discrimination in Azerbaijan.
â€œThe report claims that the government uses the process of registration against the undesirable religious organizations. Whereas the registration rules have been simplified after the amendments and annexes made to the law on â€œFreedom of religionâ€. Minimal documents, which can be gathered easily, are required from the citizens. There is no red tape in the process of registration of religious organizations. The process of re-registration of the religious organizations started in accordance with the legislation in September, 2009 and is going on.â€

The statement reminded the state registration of 30 religious organizations in accordance with the requirements of the legislation: â€œThe religious communities which had registered before, then refused to register can appeal again to the State Committee, elimination the gaps which caused the refusalâ€.

The statement says that according to Azerbaijani legislation, the religious communities can be abolished by the desire of founders or the bodies empowered to it by regulations (statue), or by the court decision basing on appeal of State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations: â€œseveral religious communities were abolished by the foundersâ€™ decision up to now. No religious community has been abolished since 2009 i.e. the start of new registration process. Owing to the new registration, all court procedures are held on the initiative of religious communities. The report says that the legal situation of religious communities which couldnâ€™t register again is uncertain. Though, any uncertainty in this issue is out of the question. Thus, according to legislation, the previous licenses of religious communities, which couldnâ€™t register again, are operative.

Owing to the other pretensions noted in the review (the interference to religious ceremony by police, detainment and custody of devout), the State Committee says that such cases occur only after founding the legal infringements and it is wrong to describe it as the infringement of freedom of belief, or permission of religious discriminationâ€.

The statement says that only common words and assessments were in some parts of the review instead of objective, real analysis of religious situation in Azerbaijan, concrete facts: â€œIn one word, the report doesnâ€™t reflect the real situation in the country and is superficial.â€