USCIRF recommends US State Department maintain Azerbaijan on Special  Watch List  for severe violations of religious freedom

ArmInfo. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has released its latest review of the situation regarding religious freedom in Azerbaijan, recommending that the US State Department maintain  Azerbaijan on its Special Watch List for severe  violations of  religious freedom.

Religious freedom conditions in Azerbaijan remain highly restricted.  Azerbaijan continues to enforce its draconian religion law, which  criminalizes unregistered religious activities and grants the  government control over registered religious organizations.  "  Azerbaijan continues to imprison Shi'a Muslims who do not recognize  government-controlled Muslim institutions and figures. Azerbaijan's  ongoing repression of independent civil society, especially  journalists and human rights defenders, has resulted in less  reporting and credible information on human rights and religious  freedom within the country. Both detained religious and civil society  actors have reported torture, sexual assault, inhumane living  conditions, and other mistreatment at the hands of law enforcement  and prison authorities. Historic Armenian religious sites in  Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions remain threatened  following Azerbaijan's retaking of the territories in 2020 and 2023,"  the report says. 

"The government's total control of religious life and affairs leaves  no room for independent religious affiliations, expression, or  activities".

The Commission recommended that the U.S. State Department maintain  Azerbaijan on its watch list for severe violations of religious  freedom. In June, USCIRF held a hearing on the situation with  religious freedom in Azerbaijan," the review recommendation says.  It  is also mentioned that the State Department placed Azerbaijan on the  Special Watch List for the first time in December 2023.