Source: www.forum18.org
Date: September 17, 2026
https://www.forum18.org/archiv
By Felix Corley, Forum 18
An official of the Baku branch of the State Committee for Work with
Religious Organisations prepared records of an offence against eight
Muslims in the city's Binagadi District for holding "religious meetings and
other religious activities in a private house". At hearings in late
February and early March, a court found them guilty and handed down fines
of two months' average wage.
Anar Kazimov, head of the Baku branch of the State Committee, did not
answer Forum 18's questions as to why his office had brought charges
against the eight Muslims for exercising the right to freedom of religion
or belief, and against a Muslim prayer leader fined in August (see below).
In early 2026, Police in Mehdiabad in Absheron District brought records of
an offence for holding an unapproved religious meeting against 26
residents. Absheron District Court heard the cases in mid-March and early
April (see below).
These were among court cases against 51 individuals Forum 18 found under
Administrative Code Article 515.0.2 ("Violating legislation on holding
religious meetings, marches, and other religious ceremonies") between
January 2026 and mid-September 2026 (see below).
In addition, Forum 18 found court cases against 6 individuals under
Administrative Code Article 515.0.3 ("Clergy and members of religious
associations holding special meetings for children and young people, as
well as the organising or holding by religious bodies of organised labour,
literary, or other clubs and groups unassociated with holding religious
ceremonies") between January 2026 and mid-September 2026 (see below).
In one of these cases, Sumgait City Court fined an individual 7,000 Manats
(about nine months' average wage) as a person acting in an official
capacity. The individual's lawyer lodged an appeal, but Sumgait Appeal
Court rejected the appeal on 9 June (see below).
Punishments under Administrative Code Article 515 are fines: for
individuals of 1,500 to 2,000 Manats, and for those acting in an official
capacity of 7,000 to 8,000 Manats. A fine of 1,500 Manats represents about
two months' average wage for residents of Baku, more for those outside the
capital (see below).
(All the known 2026 court cases are listed below.)
Following a State Committee and Police raid on Peace Protestant Church in
Sumgait ahead of its Sunday morning worship meeting on 6 September, church
members do not know if they will face prosecution. Police took 30 church
members to the police station. Officers held them for many hours and
released them only after they had been forced to write statements (see
below).
Yalchin Abdullayev, head of the Absheron-Khizi branch of the State
Committee, did not answer his phone each time Forum 18 called to find out
why he led the raid on Sumgait's Peace Church. He also did not answer
written questions about his participation in preparing prosecutions of
others (see below).
Forum 18 pointed out to the press secretary at the State Committee for Work
with Religious Organisations, Yagut Aliyeva, in writing on the afternoon of
16 September that more than 50 people are known to have been brought to
court so far in 2026 to punish the exercise of freedom of religion or
belief, such as by holding religious meetings, under Articles of the
Administrative Code. Forum 18 asked why such punishments are being imposed.
Forum 18 had received no response by the end of the working day in Baku of
17 September.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in Strasbourg has found on
numerous occasions that the regime has violated individuals' rights to
freedom of religion or belief, including by punishing individuals for
holding religious meetings that the state has not approved (see below).
In July 2025, the ECtHR ruled that the regime had violated the rights of
Vugar Rafiyev. He was among a group of Muslims fined following a March 2017
police raid on a home in Quba where Muslims who study Said Nursi's works
were meeting. Police also seized religious literature. The ECtHR awarded
Rafiyev compensation of 3,000 Euros plus 1,000 Euros in costs (see below).
Rafiyev's lawyer, Asabali Mustafayev, says his client is among many who
have received favourable judgments at the ECtHR but who have not received
compensation from the regime. "Many people remain unpaid. For two years no
one has been paid," he told Forum 18 from Baku (see below).
Many other cases of individuals punished for exercising freedom of religion
or belief are pending with the ECtHR (see below).
Compulsory state permission to exist
Under the Religion Law, backed by Administrative Code Article 515
("Violation of the procedure for creating or running religious
organisations"), all exercise of freedom of religion and belief by a group
of people is illegal unless it has obtained state registration
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
exist.
Requiring state permission to exercise freedom of religion and belief and
other human rights is against Azerbaijan's legally binding international
human rights obligations.
To apply for permission to exist, a group must have at least 50 adult
founding members (https://www.forum18.org/archi
the founders have to go to a Notary Office at the same time and the process
of verifying each founder's identity can take several hours in total.
Notary Offices can be very small.
The requirement to have 50 adult members bans all small religious
communities. Many people are afraid to sign such registration applications,
for fear of harassment and reprisals by the regime.
Muslim communities must belong to the state-controlled Caucasian Muslim
Board (https://www.forum18.org/archi
mosques are banned.
Punishing religious activity without state approval
Without state registration religious communities – and even informal
groups of people meeting together – cannot legally exist or exercise
freedom of religion and belief
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
Security Service (SSS) secret police have raided many religious communities
that have chosen not to register, or have tried to register but have been
refused.
Courts hand down fines for organising unapproved religious meetings under
Administrative Code Article 515.0.2 ("Violating legislation on holding
religious meetings, marches, and other religious ceremonies").
Courts regularly impose such fines on Muslims, Christians and others. In
June 2025, Nakhichevan City Court fined three Protestants from Baku and two
local people 1,500 Manats each under Administrative Code Article 515.0.2
for holding "illegal" religious meetings
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
Forum 18 found court cases against 51 individuals under this Article
between January 2026 and mid-September 2026 (see below).
Courts also hand down fines under Administrative Code Article 515.0.3
("Clergy and members of religious associations holding special meetings for
children and young people, as well as the organising or holding by
religious bodies of organised labour, literary, or other clubs and groups
unassociated with holding religious ceremonies").
Forum 18 found court cases against 6 individuals under this Article between
January 2026 and mid-September 2026 (see below).
Punishments under Administrative Code Article 515 are fines: for
individuals of 1,500 to 2,000 Manats, and for those acting in an official
capacity of 7,000 to 8,000 Manats. A fine of 1,500 Manats represents about
two months' average wage for residents of Baku, more for those outside the
capital.
Cases can be prepared for court by a wide range of officials, including
from the State Committee, the Prosecutor's Office and the Police (part of
the Interior Ministry).
A 5 April 2023 resolution by the Interior Ministry Board
(https://mia.gov.az/?previewli
of its officials who can prepare such cases for court. These include: the
Interior Minister and Deputy Ministers, the head and deputy head of the
Department for National and Religious Issues of the Department for the
Organisation of Preventive Work of the Main Public Security Directorate,
heads of local Police Departments, and Police investigators.
Baku Binagadi: Holding "religious meetings and other religious activities
in a private house"
In early 2026, officials raided a home in Baku's Binagadi District. "During
the inspection of the house, 280 pieces of religious literature were
discovered in the residence, some of which were used in an open state, and
the participants in the meeting participated in a religious lesson
process," local news agency Qaynarinfo noted on 7 March. "The fact that the
number of participants was 10 people, the continuous conduct of lessons,
and the use of plentiful religious literature indicate that this meeting
was not of the nature of ordinary family or individual religious learning.
The students were mainly taught lessons from the Holy Quran."
Qaynarinfo identified the home owner as BG, a 45-year-old originally from
Gabala Region. Among others involved, it identified 37-year-old RV, as well
as Talha Çamurcan, a legally-resident Turkish citizen.
An official of the Baku branch of the State Committee prepared records of
an offence against eight of the Muslims for holding "religious meetings and
other religious activities in a private house". The eight were accused
under Administrative Code Article 515.0.2 ("Violating legislation on
holding religious meetings, marches, and other religious ceremonies").
The cases were handed to Binagadi District Court. One case was heard on 24
February, five on 2 March and two on 4 March, according to court records.
It appears that the court fined all eight Muslims, at least some with fines
of 1,500 Manats each.
Forum 18 sent written questions in the afternoon of 16 September to Anar
Kazimov, head of the Baku branch of the State Committee, asking why his
office had brought charges against the eight Muslims for exercising the
right to freedom of religion or belief. Forum 18 had received no response
by the end of the working day in Baku of 17 September.
Baku Garadagh: Two 2026 cases
An official of the Baku branch of the State Committee brought a record of
an offence under Administrative Code Article 515.0.2 against Ibrahim
Bagirov, a resident of the city's Garadagh District. The case was handed to
the District Court, where a Judge heard the case on 22 May, according to
court records.
In a separate case, officials brought a record of an offence under
Administrative Code Article 515.0.2 against a 34-year-old akhund of
Rasullah mosque in Sederak shopping centre in Lokbatan in Garadagh
District. The akhund "violated the rules for organising and holding
religious gatherings and other ceremonies at the mosque", Lent.az news site
noted on 14 August. The case was handed to the District Court, where a
Judge heard the case on 7 August, according to court records. The Judge
fined him 1,500 Manats.
Forum 18 sent written questions in the afternoon of 16 September to Anar
Kazimov, head of the Baku branch of the State Committee, asking why his
office had brought charges against Bagirov, and why officials had brought
charges against the akhund. Forum 18 had received no response by the end of
the working day in Baku of 17 September.
Baku Pirallahi: Police bring one case in 2026
Officers of Baku's Pirallahi District Police brought a record of an offence
under Administrative Code Article 515.0.2 against a resident of the
District for an offence allegedly committed in early 2026. The case was
handed to the District Court, where a Judge heard the case on 10 March,
according to court records.
Absheron: 26 punished for religious meeting
In early 2026, Police in Mehdiabad in Absheron District brought records of
an offence under Administrative Code Article 515.0.2 against 26 residents.
The cases were handed to Absheron District Court, sitting in Khirdalan.
Judges heard the cases on 11, 12, 16 and 19 March, and 3 and 6 April,
according to court records. At least some of the cases were heard by Judge
Abusat Gasimov or Judge Elvin Teymur-Zade.
The head of Mehdiabad Police did not answer his phone each time Forum 18
called on 17 September.
Forum 18 sent written questions in the afternoon of 16 September to Yalchin
Abdullayev, head of the Absheron-Khizi branch of the State Committee,
asking why Police brought charges against 26 people for exercising freedom
of religion or belief. Forum 18 had received no response by the end of the
working day in Baku of 17 September. Abdullayev did not answer his phone
each time Forum 18 called on 17 September.
Goychay: Court cases against nine residents
Police in Goychay District in central Azerbaijan brought records of an
offence under Administrative Code Article 515.0.2 against nine residents of
the District for an event in early 2026. The cases were handed to the
District Court. A Judge heard eight of the cases on 29 January and the
ninth on 5 February, according to court records.
Ismayilli: Court case against resident
Officials in Ismayilli District in northern Azerbaijan brought a record of
an offence under Administrative Code Article 515.0.2 against a resident of
the District. The case was handed to the District Court. A Judge heard the
case on 6 April, according to court records.
Agdash: Police's Public Security Department brings case to court
On 28 January, the head of the Public Security Department of the Police of
Agdash District in central Azerbaijan brought a record of an offence under
Administrative Code Article 515.0.2 against a resident of the District. The
case was handed to the District Court, where a Judge heard the case on 9
February, according to court records.
Hajigabul: Prosecutor's Office brings case to court
The Prosecutor's Office of Hajigabul District of eastern Azerbaijan brought
a record of an offence under Administrative Code Article 515.0.2 against a
resident of the District. The case was handed to the District Court, where
Judge Orkhan Bayramov heard the case on 13 May, according to court records.
Sumgait: Two court cases
Officials of the Absheron-Khizi branch of the State Committee brought a
record of an offence under Administrative Code Article 515.0.2 against a
resident of Sumgait, a city north of Baku on the Caspian Sea. The case was
handed to the City Court. A Judge heard the case on 18 February, according
to court records.
In another case, Police brought a record of an offence under Administrative
Code Article 515.0.2 against Taleh Sadiqov, the 48-year-old former akhund
of Haji Beyverdi Mosque in the Haji Zeynalabdin settlement of Sumgait over
two meetings at his home in May.
Sadiqov's son, who had returned from working in Russia, complained to the
police. "He said that his father, together with his friends, organised
religious talks and meetings in their yard with the participation of about
15 people," local news outlet Canlixeber.com noted on 18 June. "This
situation caused his dissatisfaction, and as a result, he appealed to the
police."
Police handed the case against Sadiqov to Sumgait City Court. A Judge heard
the case on 25 May, according to court records. "When testifying in court,
Yavar Sadiqov said that he used to pray, but later stopped doing so, which
led to strained relations with his father," Canlixeber.com noted.
"The accused stated that he studied religious studies and hosted
intellectual friends at his home on 3 and 11 May, answering their questions
on religious topics. According to him, these conversations were not
religious rituals, but scientific discussions." The Judge fined Sadiqov
1,500 manats.
Contributors have spoken up on social media in Sadiqov's defence. "Haji
Taleh is a learned and esteemed religious figure who has carried out
religious work in the city of Sumgait for many years and is a 'hafiz' -
someone who has memorised the Holy Quran," one noted on Instagram after
Sadiqov was fined. "Those who know him well can attest to his sincerity,
his respect for others, and his service to our faith."
Forum 18 sent written questions in the afternoon of 16 September to Yalchin
Abdullayev, head of the Absheron-Khizi branch of the State Committee,
asking why his office had brought charges against the Sumgait resident in
early 2026 for exercising freedom of religion or belief, and why Police
brought charges against Taleh Sadiqov. Forum 18 had received no response by
the end of the working day in Baku of 17 September. Abdullayev did not
answer his phone each time Forum 18 called on 17 September.
Sumgait: Will church raid lead to prosecutions?
On 6 September, Yalchin Abdullayev, head of the Absheron-Khizi branch of
the State Committee, arrived with Police officers at the place where Peace
Protestant Church has met for many years, church members told Forum 18. The
official and police officers arrived as church members were preparing for
their regular Sunday morning meeting for worship. Officials claimed the
Church was meeting "illegally".
Peace Church applied for registration
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
Committee in April 2025. The State Committee has given no formal response
to the registration application (as often happens when non-Muslim
communities apply for registration).
State Committee officials gave verbal approval for the Church to continue
meeting in September 2025.
During the raid, Police stopped one church member from filming and
confiscated phones from all those present. They then loaded 30 church
members into police vehicles "like dangerous criminals caught in criminal
activity" and took them to the police station.
"Everyone was forced to stand in a narrow, unventilated hallway for up to
12 hours," church members noted. "Their faith and their identities were
mocked. Bibles, audio Bible radios, and materials confiscated from the
church building were forcibly carried into the station by church members,
including disabled men and young boys. For hours, it was impossible to
contact anyone, drink water, or eat a meal. Only later we got permission to
get water and food."
Police did not allow the detained church members to contact others. Other
church members found out where they were being held only later and brought
them food and water.
Police forced all the detained church members to write statements that they
are Christians and members of Peace Church. Officers released them after
some hours in detention with no explanation as to why they were held.
Officials complained about that Peace Church had Bibles in storage. "Unused
Bibles kept in storage were falsely represented as being distributed
without state registration stamps, even though the stamps were next to the
boxes," church members noted.
(The authorities keep all religious literature under strict censorship
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
literature must have stickers from the State Committee before it can be
distributed.)
Church members do not know if officials will bring cases against them.
"They told us that we might get fined," one church member told Forum 18 on
17 September. "But right now they did not contact us about our case and no
records of an offence were issued to us."
Sumgait's chief of police did not answer the phone each time Forum 18
called on 17 September.
Abdullayev of the Absheron-Khizi branch of the State Committee did not
answer his phone each time Forum 18 called on 17 September.
Baku Yasamal: Court cases for youth meetings
Officials of the 28th Police Department of Baku's Yasamal District Police
brought a record of an offence under Administrative Code Article 515.0.3
("Clergy and members of religious associations holding special meetings for
children and young people, as well as the organising or holding by
religious bodies of organised labour, literary, or other clubs and groups
unassociated with holding religious ceremonies") against three residents of
the District.
The cases were handed to the District Court, where Judges heard the cases
on 27 February, according to court records. "The person held religious
meetings for minor children and youth and organised religious groups," the
court decisions read.
Sumgait: Large fine, appeal fails
Officials in Sumgait brought a record of an offence under Administrative
Code Article 515.0.3 against a resident of the city. The case was handed to
the City Court. A Judge heard the case on 7 May, fining the individual
7,000 Manats, according to court records. The individual was fined as a
person acting in an official capacity.
The individual's lawyer lodged an appeal against the fine to Sumgait Appeal
Court. However, a Judge rejected the appeal on 9 June.
Baku Khazar: One case
Officials of the Police of Baku's Khazar District brought a record of an
offence under Administrative Code Article 515.0.3 against a resident of the
District. The case was handed to the District Court, where a Judge heard
the case on 15 July, according to court records.
Astara: One case
The head of the Public Security Department of the Police of Astara District
in south-eastern Azerbaijan on the border with Iran brought a record of an
offence under Administrative Code Article 515.0.3 against a resident of the
District. The case was handed to the District Court, where a Judge heard
the case on 20 July, according to court records.
ECtHR: Judgments against Azerbaijan, further cases, no payments
The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in Strasbourg has found on
numerous occasions that the regime has violated individuals' rights to
freedom of religion or belief, including by punishing individuals for
holding religious meetings that the state has not approved.
In May 2022, the ECtHR accepted Azerbaijan's admission
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
the rights of four Jehovah's Witnesses during a 2011 police raid on a
meeting for worship and accepted its offer to compensate them. Rashad
Niftaliyev, Yegana Gahramanova, Rana Sadigova and Teymur Valiyev were then
fined, though Valiyev's fine was waived because of his disability. Each was
awarded 3,000 Euros in compensation.
On 18 January 2024, the ECtHR struck out
(https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/?i
been fined (https://www.forum18.org/archi
separate cases for holding religious meetings without state permission,
Eldeniz Hajiyev (Application No. 21807/18
(https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/en
(Application No. 38997/22 (https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/en
The regime had agreed a "friendly settlement" with each. The settlement
entailed paying each of them 3,800 Euros in compensation, plus 800 Euros in
costs. Asabali Mustafayev, a Baku lawyer, represented the two Muslims at
the court.
In January 2024, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
decided not to ratify the Azerbaijani delegation's credentials. It cited
Azerbaijan's failure to fulfil its major commitments
(https://pace.coe.int/en/files
Europe, its inability to conduct free and fair elections, weak separation
of powers between branches of government, lack of judicial independence,
numerous unresolved cases of political prisoners, and humanitarian concerns
in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Since then, it appears that the regime has not paid compensation and costs
due to individuals as part of ECtHR judgments. Mustafayev, the lawyer who
has represented at the Court several Muslims who were punished for
exercising freedom of religion or belief, said that the regime paid the
compensation to Hajiyev and Abdullayev.
Vugar Rafiyev is a Muslim from Sumgait who reads the works of the late
Turkish Muslim theologian Said Nursi. In March 2017, police raided a home
in Quba where Muslims who study Nursi's works were meeting and seized
religious literature. Almost all of those present were fined in March 2017
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
Rafiyev lodged his case to the ECtHR in November 2017 (Application No.
81028/17 (https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/en
that his rights had been violated in its 8 July 2025 decision
(https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/?i
later. It specified 3,000 Euros in compensation plus 1,000 Euros in costs.
"Beginning with Rafiyev, the authorities have not paid," Mustafayev told
Forum 18 from Baku on 17 September about those who have received favourable
judgments from the ECtHR. "Many people remain unpaid. For two years no one
has been paid."
Other cases of people from Azerbaijan whose rights to freedom of religion
or belief have been violated remain at the ECtHR.
Following a police raid on a Muslim meeting for worship in the home of
Elnur Afandiyev, in October 2022 Quba District Court found him as well as
Nurlan Mirzayev, Ayaz Agayev, Amil Gubatov, Sahib Novruzov, Babak
Ibrahimov, Shahmar Hajiyev, Ismayil Balakishiyev, Shamkhal Orujev, Telman
Almasov and Jafar Madatov guilty under Administrative Code Article 515.0.2
and fined each 1,500 Manats. Sumgait Appeal Court rejected the men's
appeals (https://www.forum18.org/archi
2022.
The men's cases are among those from Azerbaijan pending at the ECtHR.
Afandiyev v. Azerbaijan (Application No. 12483/23); Mirzayev v. Azerbaijan
(Application No. 12417/23); Agayev v. Azerbaijan (Application No.
12447/23); Gubatov v. Azerbaijan (Application No. 12454/23); Novruzov v.
Azerbaijan (Application No. 12471/23); Ibrahimov v. Azerbaijan (Application
No. 12478/23); Hajiyev v. Azerbaijan (Application No. 12484/23);
Balakishiyev v. Azerbaijan (Application No. 12486/23); Orujev v. Azerbaijan
(Application No. 12496/23); Almasov v. Azerbaijan (Application No.
12499/23); and Madatov v. Azerbaijan (Application No. 12508/23). (END)
More reports on freedom of thought, conscience and belief in Azerbaijan
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
For background information, see Forum 18's Azerbaijan religious freedom
survey (https://www.forum18.org/archi
Forum 18's compilation of Organisation for Security and Co-operation in
Europe (OSCE) freedom of religion or belief commitments
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
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