At the same time that a delegation from the Council of Europe was visiting Azerbaijan to examine the country's human rights commitments, Azerbaijan's lack of religious freedom was demonstrated as police raided a Seventh Day Adventist church in Gäncä on November 20. According to Forum 18, fifteen police officers raided the church, bringing along a film crew from the Azerbaijan News Service. Despite protests from the parents, the journalists interviewed the children present at the service, asking if they had been forced to attend against their will. The police then detained two church leaders, Rustam Akhmedov and Vidadi Huseinov, interrogating them and threatening to deport Akhmedov, a Moldovan citizen with a temporary residence permit. After two hours, they released the men but warned Akhmedov that he would be deported if he led any further religious services.
Pray for the continued work of Christ's Church in Azerbaijan , despite opposition from the authorities. Pray that the government will respect the rights of all people living in the country.
For more information on persecution facing Christians in Azerbaijan, click here.
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