VZCZCXRO7782
RR RUEHAG RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR
RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHKB #0405/01 1391037
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 191037Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY BAKU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1219
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1341
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 3390

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 000405 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC, DRL 
 
E.O.12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV KDEM AJ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN: PARLIAMENT PASSES AMENDMENTS TO THE LAW ON 
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM 
 
¶1. (U) Sensitive But Unclassified.  Not for Internet distribution. 
 
¶2. (SBU)Summary. On May 8 the Milli Majlis (Parliament) passed an 
amended Law on Freedom of Religion.   According to the latest 
available text of the amendments to the Law, some of the amendments 
contradict international human rights standards agreed by 
Azerbaijan.  Members of parliament debated the changes, but do not 
seem to have improved upon the original draft delivered to 
parliament from the presidential administration.  A number of 
religious activists and international NGOs have publicly condemned 
the changes, which appear to make it more difficult for religious 
communities to register with the GOAJ and easier for the GOAJ to 
close a community. End summary. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) On May 6 the Parliament's Committee on Human Rights 
discussed the amendments to the Law on Religious Freedom, which was 
given to the committee on May 4 by the Presidential Apparat.   Some 
reports state that the committee made significant change's to the 
original draft, but that information has not been confirmed as no 
copy of the final version is publicly available.  Before the Law was 
put to a vote in the full parliament on May 8, the head of the Human 
Rights Committee Rabiyyat Aslanova made a report. In approximately 
30-minute speech Aslanova stated a need for amendments to the Law on 
Religious Freedom as it was originally adopted in 1992. Since the 18 
March referendum approved a number of changes to the Constitution, 
those changes should be reflected in the Law too, Aslanova said. 
Aslanova named amended articles 18 on Religion and State, and 48 on 
Freedom of Conscience, and proposed the Parliament adopts all 
changes made to the Law. According to Aslanova there are 1750 
mosques and 533 religious communities which passed the state 
registration. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) There is still no copy of these amendments that is 
publicly available.  According to a version obtained from an MP, 
which seems to be the original version given to parliament from the 
presidential administration, some of the amendments contradict 
international human rights standards agreed by Azerbaijan.  Examples 
include making a community's legal status dependent on this 
community fulfilling highly intrusive registration requirements, 
including unspecified doctrinal tests. Government officials are also 
given many reasons for refusing to register or ban organizations, 
including such formulations as "violating social order or social 
rules."  Among 30 amended articles, article 12 on State registration 
of religious organization has been one of the focal point of 
changes.  A part of the changed article says "The religious 
organization can act only in the juridical address defined in the 
information presented for state registration." 
 
¶5.  (SBU) During the discussions ruling party MP Siyavush Novruzov 
made harsh statements about the Caucasus Muslim Board (CMB). 
Novruzov criticized the Board's work, saying it had been mostly 
involved in the collection of money from worship places and mourning 
ceremonies.  The MP also raised his dissatisfaction with people 
without religious training being allowed to lead religious 
activities, for which he believes the CMB bears responsibility. 
Another ruling party MP Mubariz Gurbanly objected to a proposed 
amendment which allows the possibility of reflecting religious 
affiliation on official documents, meaning ID cards. According to 
Gurbanly such a law would cause religious discrimination. Opposition 
MP Panah Huseyn raised an objection to proposed changes to article 
¶12. Huseyn stated the new requirement that an organization function 
only at the address of legal registration would mean imposing 
limitations on activities of religious structures.  Despite these 
objections, the bill was passed and awaits the President's 
signature. 
 
 
Reaction from opposition and civil society 
--------------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) Before the Law was put on vote at the parliament, some 
members of civil society criticized the proposed amendments. On May 
7, during the training for journalists writing on religion, the head 
of the Center for Freedom of Religion and Conscience Ilgar 
Ibrahimoglu said the amendments to the Law would put freedom of 
religion under the same attacks as freedom of speech is. Ibrahimoglu 
continued saying the new Law would incite radicalism in society, and 
the registration process already resembles the one of the Soviet 
period. 
 
¶7.  (SBU)  In meetings with Embassy officials, several other members 
of civil society criticized the new law.  Opposition MP Nasib 
Nasibli told Emboff that the amended Law imposed limits on religious 
communities, and might cause religious radicalism. Religious expert 
Elshad Miri, speaking to the Embassy staff said that new amendments 
 
BAKU 00000405  002 OF 002 
 
 
would require any religious community to have its own temple/mosque 
before registration, even though the community might be small having 
only 11 people.  Another religious expert Elshan Mustafayev said 
that the requirement to have a temple before registration is 
contradictory. He stated that according to amendments any 
construction of a temple would require having a community under its 
auspices. At the same time any community wishing of getting 
registered shall have its temple already. This creates a 
contradictory situation. Mustafayev also said that changes to 
article 12 would limit activities of a religious community to the 
physical address of legal registration only. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Comment: The new amendments to the Law on Religious Freedom 
will create more obstacles for religious communities to receive 
registration from the GOAJ, a process which is already long and 
complicated.  In addition, it will now be easier for the government 
to impose doctrinal control over religious communities, and to close 
communities that do not meet its criteria.  The quick adoption of 
the Law (only four days lapsed between its release from the 
presidential administration to its passage in parliament) indicates 
a desire from authorities to limit public debate on the meaning of 
these amendments. End comment.