New measures to control religious freedom in Azerbaijan

New amendments could increase restrictions
on freedom of belief or religion in Azerbaijan.

Christians in Azerbaijan fear that new amendments to the restrictive Religion Law will increase state restrictions on freedom of religion or belief in the country, reports Forum 18 News. 

The amendments, adopted June 10, could make it difficult to determine which individuals are able to serve as religious leaders.

A news article states that a “religious person engaged in religious activity is a person with higher or secondary specialized religious education."

While this definition does not specify that only “professional” religious workers can conduct activities such as religious education or leading worship, officials could use the new definitions to ban individuals from any religious activity not specially authorized by the law.

Churches and other religious communities worry that the new amendments are a covert way of requiring those still waiting for re-registration to begin the entire process again, offering more opportunities for officials to impose pressure on communities and stop them from gaining legal status.

You can help by praying!

• Pray for Christians in Azerbaijan as they go about their ministry for Christ amid these new amendments.
• Pray they will continue to echo Peter's sentiment and be determined to obey God regardless of what man says (Acts 5:29).
• Pray true religious freedom will be upheld in Azerbaijan.

Growing concern over proposed legislative changes on religion in Armenia

Did you know Armenia was the
world's first Christian nation?

Human rights defenders and religious communities are harshly criticising proposed amendments to several Armenian laws that would impose new restrictions on and punishments for religious activity, says Forum 18 News Service.

Under these amendments, the state would conduct a "theological expert examination" before granting registration to religious communities, while those that fail to provide full information about all their activities could be liquidated. Sharing faith is a particular target, with penalties for violations of up to three months' imprisonment.

"If adopted, [these amendments] will create two kinds of citizens in Armenia—those of the Armenian Apostolic Church on one side, and then the rest," Pastor Rene Leonian of the Evangelical Church told Forum 18 News Service. "It is difficult for us to accept in an independent and democratic state that there can be two classes of citizen."

The amendments, prepared by the Justice Ministry, were first made known when placed on the Council of Europe's Venice Commission website on November 30.

You can read the full story here.

Pray for wisdom for the leaders of Armenia. Pray for unity and cooperation with the Armenian Church, that its groups will find common ground and the ability to work together for the purposes of God. Pray for deep spiritual regeneration of the Church and for godly leaders.