[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 34 (Thursday, March 21, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E436-E437]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RE-REGISTRATION CAMPAIGN DENYING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN AZERBAIJAN

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 20, 2002

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, the ongoing re-registration 
campaign for religious organizations conducted by the State Committee 
for Relations with Religious Organizations, headed by Chairman Rafik 
Aliev potentially violates Azerbaijan's commitments to religious 
freedom as a participating State in the Organization for Security and 
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Azerbaijan must take steps commensurate 
with its commitments under the Helsinki Final Act and subsequent OSCE 
documents to ensure the freedom of the individual to profess and 
practice their religion or belief, alone or in community with others.
  The State Committee, created last year to replace the Religious 
Affairs Directorate, has broad administrative powers, which Chairman 
Aliev seems willing to utilize in an attempt to ban minority religious 
communities through denial of legal registration. Recent reports 
indicate that of the 407 religious groups previously registered, only 
approximately 150 are currently under consideration for re-registration 
by the State Committee. An additional 200 organizations were 
unsuccessful in their initial application due to technical errors and 
were asked to resubmit these requests. While I am pleased that 80 
groups have been approved, reportedly most are Muslim, I hope that the 
State Committee is not specifically discriminating against minority 
faiths or religious groups.
  Despite the extension of the re-registration deadline to the end of 
March, there is legitimate concern that groups will be arbitrarily 
denied registration, and thereby legal status, despite fulfilling all 
requirements. In addition, although this is the third registration 
campaign since 1991, reportedly about 2,000 more religious groups 
remain unregistered. Recently, a senior official at the State Committee 
declared unregistered groups will be closed down.
  The fear that the State Committee will refuse to register religious 
groups for arbitrary reasons is supported by several statements from 
Chairman Aliev himself. For instance, he declared the State Committee 
hoped to introduce more stringent regulations to govern both religious 
organizations and individuals. He also said the State Committee can 
request a court to suspend activities of any religious organization 
conducting activities deemed illegal or found to undermine national 
security. The State Committee has also limited the ability for 
religious communities to import religious material. Reportedly, 
Chairman Aliev also stated ``religious organizations must be 
controlled'' and that ``religion is dangerous.'' This flies in the face 
of President Heydar Aliyev's November 1999 public statements supporting 
religious freedom in Azerbaijan.
  Also of concern are the heavy-handed actions against religious groups 
by Azeri Government officials and police officers. For example, on 
January 18, 2002, National Security Ministry officers raided an 
unregistered Protestant church, Living Stones, which was meeting in a 
private apartment. The police and security officers searched the 
residence and seized religious literature. Ten individuals who were 
attending the meeting were taken into custody, transferred to a police 
station and interrogated. While eight individuals were released, two 
church leaders, Yusuf Farkhadov and Kasym Kasymov, were given two-week 
prison sentences for violating Article 310 of the Administrative Code, 
which addresses ``petty hooliganism.'' The reported justifications for 
the raid was that the church is not registered. However, Living Stones 
had attempted to register with the government, but only after 1\1/2\

[[Page E437]]

years of waiting did the government decide their application contained 
errors and must be resubmitted. In addition, the church is listed as a 
branch of the Nehemiah Protestant Church, which is registered.
  Many other religious communities are also concerned. It is feared the 
Ashkenzai Jewish community will not be successful in registering, 
because the State Committee is favoring a separate Jewish group. The 
liquidation suit brought by Chairman Aliev against the Love Baptist 
Church in the Narimanov district court continues to drag on. 
Liquidating the church due to alleged statements by its pastor is a 
disproportionate penalty and contravenes OSCE commitments. Illegal 
closures of churches by local officials, as in the case of the Gyanja 
Adventist Church on February 24, 2002, have not been halted by the 
State Committee. The closure of mosques under the pretext of state 
security is also a concern, as the government could ban unpopular 
groups, despite no proof of illegal activity.
  The Helsinki Final Act commits that ``the participating States will 
recognize and respect the freedom of the individual to profess and 
practice, alone or in community with others, religion or belief acting 
in accordance with the dictates of his own conscience.'' Mr. Speaker, I 
urge President Aliyev to ensure that the re-registration process is 
accomplished in accordance with Azerbaijan's OSCE commitments. In light 
of statements by Chairman Aliev, it is apparent the State Committee is 
perverting the re-registration process to arbitrarily deny legal 
registration to selected religious communities. The government must 
take the necessary steps to protect the right of individuals to profess 
and practice their faith by registering religious organizations, in 
keeping with Azerbaijan's commitments as a participating OSCE State.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, I am greatly alarmed by the re-registration 
campaign in Azerbaijan. This being the third time in a decade the 
government has required registration, it would seem Azerbaijan will 
continually ``sift'' minority religious groups until all are made 
illegal. Therefore, it is my hope that the Azeri Government will choose 
to honor its OSCE commitments and allow religious communities to 
register without harassment or bureaucratic roadblocks. Members of 
Congress will be watching to see if groups highlighted in this 
statement are harassed because of their mention.

                          ____________________