New report by International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR) and Human Rights Club analyses the existing national legislative framework regulating the exercise of the right to freedom of religion and belief in Azerbaijan, and its compliance with international legal standards, in particular the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR).
The report identifies key areas of concern in the current legislation and, where possible, its application in practice. It goes on to provide recommendations to address the existing gaps or shortcomings in the current legislation and its implementation.
Research for this report was conducted by a team of Azerbaijani human rights lawyers, supported by international experts. The researchers used a number of research tools including desk research into the national legislation, national and international reports, official inquiries submitted to the relevant state structures, interviews with members of religious communities, defense lawyers, experts on freedom of religion and human rights defenders.
Read the report “Freedom of religion and belief in Azerbaijan. Assessment of national legislation and its application” in English here.
Cover photo: ©Jim, “Baku lights“, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, https://flic.kr/p/buoEgv