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.

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.