[Field Story] Asia and OceaniaThe U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom recommends for the first time that Azerbaijan be designated as a country of special concern.

The United States' bipartisan organization, the Committee on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), recommended for the first time to the U.S. State Department that Azerbaijan be designated as a 'Country of Particular Concern for Religious Freedom' (CPC). According to the American Christian Post (CP), in the '2024 Annual Report' released on the 1st, USCIRF reported that, as last year, North Korea, Myanmar, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan 12 countries were designated as countries of special concern. It also recommended adding five countries this year: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Nigeria, and Vietnam.

(omit)

This year is the first time that Azerbaijan has been recommended for designation as a country of special concern for religious freedom. USCIRF has placed Azerbaijan on the list of Tier 2 special monitoring countries starting in 2020.

However, in 2023, the committee assessed the situation of religious freedom in Azerbaijan as “changing negatively” in the aftermath of the Nagorno-Karabakh territorial dispute. Most of the residents of the Nagorno-Karabakh region were Armenian Christians, but after the Armenians surrendered to Azerbaijan in September 2023, there was a large-scale exodus.

“The (Azerbaijani) government continues to pose threats to religious sites in and around the Nagorno-Karabakh region,” the report stated. Also, “In May of last year, Mubaris Gurbanri, Chairman of the Official State Religious Work Committee, urged the Armenian apostolic priests at the Dadibank Monastery in the Kalbajar region to leave the monastery,” adding, “It is clear that they have no connection with religious sites.” “It is a false claim,” he said.

(omit)

The committee said the Azerbaijani government was enforcing a requirement that religious groups register under a 2009 law to legally worship. The government also requires official review and approval of religious books and other materials, and specifically limits who can engage in “religious propaganda” or “missionary activities.”

“Continuing last year, the government once again refused to register non-Muslim religious communities,” the report added.

USCIRF Director Steven Schneck said at a press conference on the 1st, “In our 2022 and 2023 annual reports, we noted an increase in religious freedom violations by the Azerbaijani government,” and added, “Unfortunately, this trend will continue in 2023, and it is now a country of special concern for religious freedom.” “We concluded that the criteria for designation were met,” he said.

The committee recommended that the U.S. government revise its 2009 religious law and work with the Azerbaijani government to bring it into compliance with revised international human rights standards in 2022. The committee also called for funding for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Embassy in Baku to restore, preserve and protect places of worship and other religious or cultural sites in Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding region.

Source: Christian Today

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” And he said, “Go, and say to this people: “‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’(Isaiah 6:8-9)

We praise God who has made us His people and guides us unceasingly.

God, we are your people who must hear and follow your voice.

Through government surveillance and a system that restricts freedom of religion,

We see the situation in Azerbaijan where it is difficult to come before the Lord.

Please have mercy on those who do not know God because their eyes and ears are blocked by sin.

Because of this, please turn back to those who follow vain and foolish things.

God gave them the wisdom to understand and remember God.

Let us exalt the God we must seek and worship.

Now that it is no longer a country of special concern for religious freedom, it is bringing countless people to the Lord.

Let me rise as a guiding light.

We believe that the Lord will surely do this!

Please work through our prayers as a vessel!