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Persecution News - Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan Profile

Total Area:
86,600 sq. km

Population:
8,177,717 (July 2008 est.)

Ethnicity:
Azeri 90.6%, Dagestani 2.2%, Russian 1.8%, Armenian 1.5%, other 3.9% (1999 est.) NOTE: almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region

Language:
Azerbaijani (Azeri) 90.3%, Lezgi 2.2%, Russian 1.8%, other 3.3%, unspecified 1% (1999)

Religion:
Muslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox 2.3%, other 1.8% (1995 est.)

Government Type:
Republic

Capital:
Baku (Baki, Baky)

Population Below Poverty Line:
24% (2005 est.)

Country Reports

Pastor and Church Members Fined After Church Raid

December 19, 2007

Five church members and three visitors were imprisoned and fined after the police raided the mid-morning meeting of a Seventh-day Adventist service in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku on December 8. According to a December 16 report from the Adventist Press Service, thirteen police officers interrupted the gathering, demanded the passports of those present and then began searching the premises. Books and other religious materials were confiscated. Police then arrested eight of those present on charges of "meeting without state registration" and detained them at the local police station where officials tried to force them to sign statements denying their faith. After five hours, the Adventists were fined and released with a warning that they would be imprisoned if the congregation continued to meet together. Pastor Rasim Bakhshiyev was fined a total of 16.50 manats ($20 CAD) and the others were fined 11 manats.

Pray that this congregation will be encouraged to meet together for worship and prayer, despite opposition.

For more information on the persecution of Christians in this country, visit Azerbaijan's Country Report.