Update: Imprisoned pastor to remain in jail

A motion to free Pastor Hamid Shabanov, who was arrested on June 20 for allegedly holding an illegal weapon (click here for more), has been rejected, according to a September 19 report from Forum 18. In a recent hearing that was called without the consent of Shabanov, his lawyer, or his family, the court decided that he will remain in custody for another two months while the criminal investigation against him continues, even though it was scheduled to be complete by August 23. At last report, Shabanov was detained in a police station
in Balakan district.
  • Country Information

    Population
    10,420,515 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity (%)
    Azerbaijani (91.6), Lezghin (2), Russian (1.3), Armenian (1.3), Talysh (1.3), other (2.4)

    Religions (%)
    Islam (97.3), Christianity (2.6), other (0.1)

    Leader
    President Ilham Aliyev (2003)

    Government type
    Presidential republic

    Legal system
    Civil law system

    Source: CIA World Factbook

  • Pray for Azerbaijan

    Pray for peace within the hearts of the Azerbaijani people who are living amid political instability. May the country's governmental authorities be willing to grant Christians their fundamental freedoms, enabling them to worship freely and share their faith openly with others of their communities.

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Azerbaijan News

  • Churches Continue to Await Registration
    Open water is in the distance. A crowd on the beach can be seen between two tall buildings.
    Sumgait, Azerbaijan.
    Photo: Pexels / Smart World

    In April, the leadership representing Peace Church in Sumgait, Azerbaijan, submitted a formal application for registration with the government, a legal requirement for conducting worship and other religious activities within the country. However, more than five months later, the church remains in legal limbo. The state committee responsible for processing such registrations is refusing to process the application. Instead, the church has been warned that any unregistered religious activity is forbidden and will consequently result in punishment.

    Read more...

  • Fines for Unapproved Religious Meetings
    A group of people are studying together.
    Pray that Christians in Azerbaijan will continue to meet.
    Photo: VOMC Source

    A court in the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhichevan recently fined two local Christians and three visitors from the capital city of Baku for participating in a worship gathering without state permission. The ruling was announced on June 19th, two months after authorities raided the home of a Korean family where the believers had assembled for worship. The court also fined and deported members of the Korean family for hosting Christian meetings in their residence.

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  • Christian Community Authorized to Meet After Many Years
    Hamid Shabanov - Photo: World Watch Monitor www.worldwatchmonitor.org
    Pastor Hamid Shabanov
    Photo: World Watch Monitor

    The Baptist community in the village of Aliabad understands what it means to wait patiently. For 25 years, these believers have sought legal status but were repeatedly ignored or denied. Police have regularly raided their church meetings and seized religious literature. Despite the opposition, the church continued to gather for teaching and worship while attempting to get official status.

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  • Court Appeals Rejected
    Pastor Hamid Shabanov - Photo: VOM USA www.persecution.com
    Pastor Hamid Shabanov
    Photo: VOM USA

    Pastor Hamid Shabanov has known suffering for more than two decades, as he seeks to lead his church in Aliabad, Azerbaijan. He has been arrested on multiple occasions. For a 2013 report on the fines facing him, see this report. In December 2016, he was fined again for hosting religious meetings without permission. This opposition comes despite the fact that the church has been seeking legal registration since 1994.

    Read more...

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