An official of the Baku branch of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organisations prepared records of an offence against eight Muslims in the city's Binagadi District for holding "religious meetings and other religious activities in a private house". At hearings in late February and early March, a court found them guilty and handed down fines of two months' average wage.

Anar Kazimov, head of the Baku branch of the State Committee, did not answer Forum 18's questions as to why his office had brought charges against the eight Muslims for exercising the right to freedom of religion or belief, and against a Muslim prayer leader fined in August (see below).

In early 2026, Police in Mehdiabad in Absheron District brought records of an offence for holding an unapproved religious meeting against 26 residents. Absheron District Court heard the cases in mid-March and early April (see below).

These were among court cases against 51 individuals Forum 18 found under Administrative Code Article 515.0.2 ("Violating legislation on holding religious meetings, marches, and other religious ceremonies") between January 2026 and mid-September 2026 (see below).

In addition, Forum 18 found court cases against 6 individuals under Administrative Code Article 515.0.3 ("Clergy and members of religious associations holding special meetings for children and young people, as well as the organising or holding by religious bodies of organised labour, literary, or other clubs and groups unassociated with holding religious ceremonies") between January 2026 and mid-September 2026 (see below).

In one of these cases, Sumgait City Court fined an individual 7,000 Manats (about nine months' average wage) as a person acting in an official capacity. The individual's lawyer lodged an appeal, but Sumgait Appeal Court rejected the appeal on 9 June (see below).

Punishments under Administrative Code Article 515 are fines: for individuals of 1,500 to 2,000 Manats, and for those acting in an official capacity of 7,000 to 8,000 Manats. A fine of 1,500 Manats represents about two months' average wage for residents of Baku, more for those outside the capital (see below).

(All the known 2026 court cases are listed below.)

Following a State Committee and Police raid on Peace Protestant Church in Sumgait ahead of its Sunday morning worship meeting on 6 September, church members do not know if they will face prosecution. Police took 30 church members to the police station. Officers held them for many hours and released them only after they had been forced to write statements (see below).

Yalchin Abdullayev, head of the Absheron-Khizi branch of the State Committee, did not answer his phone each time Forum 18 called to find out why he led the raid on Sumgait's Peace Church. He also did not answer written questions about his participation in preparing prosecutions of others (see below).

Forum 18 pointed out to the press secretary at the State Committee for Work with Religious Organisations, Yagut Aliyeva, in writing on the afternoon of 16 September that more than 50 people are known to have been brought to court so far in 2026 to punish the exercise of freedom of religion or belief, such as by holding religious meetings, under Articles of the Administrative Code. Forum 18 asked why such punishments are being imposed. Forum 18 had received no response by the end of the working day in Baku of 17 September.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in Strasbourg has found on numerous occasions that the regime has violated individuals' rights to freedom of religion or belief, including by punishing individuals for holding religious meetings that the state has not approved (see below).

In July 2025, the ECtHR ruled that the regime had violated the rights of Vugar Rafiyev. He was among a group of Muslims fined following a March 2017 police raid on a home in Quba where Muslims who study Said Nursi's works were meeting. Police also seized religious literature. The ECtHR awarded Rafiyev compensation of 3,000 Euros plus 1,000 Euros in costs (see below).

Rafiyev's lawyer, Asabali Mustafayev, says his client is among many who have received favourable judgments at the ECtHR but who have not received compensation from the regime. "Many people remain unpaid. For two years no one has been paid," he told Forum 18 from Baku (see below).

Many other cases of individuals punished for exercising freedom of religion or belief are pending with the ECtHR (see below).

Compulsory state permission to exist

Under the Religion Law, backed by Administrative Code Article 515 ("Violation of the procedure for creating or running religious organisations"), all exercise of freedom of religion and belief by a group of people is illegal unless it has obtained state registration, and so permission to exist.

Requiring state permission to exercise freedom of religion and belief and other human rights is against Azerbaijan's legally binding international human rights obligations.

To apply for permission to exist, a group must have at least 50 adult founding members. All the founders have to go to a Notary Office at the same time and the process of verifying each founder's identity can take several hours in total. Notary Offices can be very small.

The requirement to have 50 adult members bans all small religious communities. Many people are afraid to sign such registration applications, for fear of harassment and reprisals by the regime.

Muslim communities must belong to the state-controlled Caucasian Muslim Board. Independent mosques are banned.

Punishing religious activity without state approval

Without state registration religious communities – and even informal groups of people meeting together – cannot legally exist or exercise freedom of religion and belief. Police and the State Security Service (SSS) secret police have raided many religious communities that have chosen not to register, or have tried to register but have been refused.

Courts hand down fines for organising unapproved religious meetings under Administrative Code Article 515.0.2 ("Violating legislation on holding religious meetings, marches, and other religious ceremonies").

Courts regularly impose such fines on Muslims, Christians and others. In June 2025, Nakhichevan City Court fined three Protestants from Baku and two local people 1,500 Manats each under Administrative Code Article 515.0.2 for holding "illegal" religious meetings in a home.

Forum 18 found court cases against 51 individuals under this Article between January 2026 and mid-September 2026 (see below).

Courts also hand down fines under Administrative Code Article 515.0.3 ("Clergy and members of religious associations holding special meetings for children and young people, as well as the organising or holding by religious bodies of organised labour, literary, or other clubs and groups unassociated with holding religious ceremonies").

Forum 18 found court cases against 6 individuals under this Article between January 2026 and mid-September 2026 (see below).

Punishments under Administrative Code Article 515 are fines: for individuals of 1,500 to 2,000 Manats, and for those acting in an official capacity of 7,000 to 8,000 Manats. A fine of 1,500 Manats represents about two months' average wage for residents of Baku, more for those outside the capital.

Cases can be prepared for court by a wide range of officials, including from the State Committee, the Prosecutor's Office and the Police (part of the Interior Ministry).

A 5 April 2023 resolution by the Interior Ministry Board specifies a wide range of its officials who can prepare such cases for court. These include: the Interior Minister and Deputy Ministers, the head and deputy head of the Department for National and Religious Issues of the Department for the Organisation of Preventive Work of the Main Public Security Directorate, heads of local Police Departments, and Police investigators.

Baku Binagadi: Holding "religious meetings and other religious activities in a private house"

In early 2026, officials raided a home in Baku's Binagadi District. "During the inspection of the house, 280 pieces of religious literature were discovered in the residence, some of which were used in an open state, and the participants in the meeting participated in a religious lesson process," local news agency Qaynarinfo noted on 7 March. "The fact that the number of participants was 10 people, the continuous conduct of lessons, and the use of plentiful religious literature indicate that this meeting was not of the nature of ordinary family or individual religious learning. The students were mainly taught lessons from the Holy Quran."

Qaynarinfo identified the home owner as BG, a 45-year-old originally from Gabala Region. Among others involved, it identified 37-year-old RV, as well as Talha Çamurcan, a legally-resident Turkish citizen.

An official of the Baku branch of the State Committee prepared records of an offence against eight of the Muslims for holding "religious meetings and other religious activities in a private house". The eight were accused under Administrative Code Article 515.0.2 ("Violating legislation on holding religious meetings, marches, and other religious ceremonies").

The cases were handed to Binagadi District Court. One case was heard on 24 February, five on 2 March and two on 4 March, according to court records. It appears that the court fined all eight Muslims, at least some with fines of 1,500 Manats each.

Forum 18 sent written questions in the afternoon of 16 September to Anar Kazimov, head of the Baku branch of the State Committee, asking why his office had brought charges against the eight Muslims for exercising the right to freedom of religion or belief. Forum 18 had received no response by the end of the working day in Baku of 17 September.

Baku Garadagh: Two 2026 cases

An official of the Baku branch of the State Committee brought a record of an offence under Administrative Code Article 515.0.2 against Ibrahim Bagirov, a resident of the city's Garadagh District. The case was handed to the District Court, where a Judge heard the case on 22 May, according to court records.

In a separate case, officials brought a record of an offence under Administrative Code Article 515.0.2 against a 34-year-old akhund of Rasullah mosque in Sederak shopping centre in Lokbatan in Garadagh District. The akhund "violated the rules for organising and holding religious gatherings and other ceremonies at the mosque", Lent.az news site noted on 14 August. The case was handed to the District Court, where a Judge heard the case on 7 August, according to court records. The Judge fined him 1,500 Manats.

Forum 18 sent written questions in the afternoon of 16 September to Anar Kazimov, head of the Baku branch of the State Committee, asking why his office had brought charges against Bagirov, and why officials had brought charges against the akhund. Forum 18 had received no response by the end of the working day in Baku of 17 September.

Baku Pirallahi: Police bring one case in 2026

Officers of Baku's Pirallahi District Police brought a record of an offence under Administrative Code Article 515.0.2 against a resident of the District for an offence allegedly committed in early 2026. The case was handed to the District Court, where a Judge heard the case on 10 March, according to court records.

Absheron: 26 punished for religious meeting

In early 2026, Police in Mehdiabad in Absheron District brought records of an offence under Administrative Code Article 515.0.2 against 26 residents. The cases were handed to Absheron District Court, sitting in Khirdalan. Judges heard the cases on 11, 12, 16 and 19 March, and 3 and 6 April, according to court records. At least some of the cases were heard by Judge Abusat Gasimov or Judge Elvin Teymur-Zade.

The head of Mehdiabad Police did not answer his phone each time Forum 18 called on 17 September.

Forum 18 sent written questions in the afternoon of 16 September to Yalchin Abdullayev, head of the Absheron-Khizi branch of the State Committee, asking why Police brought charges against 26 people for exercising freedom of religion or belief. Forum 18 had received no response by the end of the working day in Baku of 17 September. Abdullayev did not answer his phone each time Forum 18 called on 17 September.

Goychay: Court cases against nine residents

Police in Goychay District in central Azerbaijan brought records of an offence under Administrative Code Article 515.0.2 against nine residents of the District for an event in early 2026. The cases were handed to the District Court. A Judge heard eight of the cases on 29 January and the ninth on 5 February, according to court records.

Ismayilli: Court case against resident

Officials in Ismayilli District in northern Azerbaijan brought a record of an offence under Administrative Code Article 515.0.2 against a resident of the District. The case was handed to the District Court. A Judge heard the case on 6 April, according to court records.

Agdash: Police's Public Security Department brings case to court

On 28 January, the head of the Public Security Department of the Police of Agdash District in central Azerbaijan brought a record of an offence under Administrative Code Article 515.0.2 against a resident of the District. The case was handed to the District Court, where a Judge heard the case on 9 February, according to court records.

Hajigabul: Prosecutor's Office brings case to court

The Prosecutor's Office of Hajigabul District of eastern Azerbaijan brought a record of an offence under Administrative Code Article 515.0.2 against a resident of the District. The case was handed to the District Court, where Judge Orkhan Bayramov heard the case on 13 May, according to court records.

Sumgait: Two court cases

Officials of the Absheron-Khizi branch of the State Committee brought a record of an offence under Administrative Code Article 515.0.2 against a resident of Sumgait, a city north of Baku on the Caspian Sea. The case was handed to the City Court. A Judge heard the case on 18 February, according to court records.

In another case, Police brought a record of an offence under Administrative Code Article 515.0.2 against Taleh Sadiqov, the 48-year-old former akhund of Haji Beyverdi Mosque in the Haji Zeynalabdin settlement of Sumgait over two meetings at his home in May.

Sadiqov's son, who had returned from working in Russia, complained to the police. "He said that his father, together with his friends, organised religious talks and meetings in their yard with the participation of about 15 people," local news outlet Canlixeber.com noted on 18 June. "This situation caused his dissatisfaction, and as a result, he appealed to the police."

Police handed the case against Sadiqov to Sumgait City Court. A Judge heard the case on 25 May, according to court records. "When testifying in court, Yavar Sadiqov said that he used to pray, but later stopped doing so, which led to strained relations with his father," Canlixeber.com noted.

"The accused stated that he studied religious studies and hosted intellectual friends at his home on 3 and 11 May, answering their questions on religious topics. According to him, these conversations were not religious rituals, but scientific discussions." The Judge fined Sadiqov 1,500 manats.

Contributors have spoken up on social media in Sadiqov's defence. "Haji Taleh is a learned and esteemed religious figure who has carried out religious work in the city of Sumgait for many years and is a 'hafiz' - someone who has memorised the Holy Quran," one noted on Instagram after Sadiqov was fined. "Those who know him well can attest to his sincerity, his respect for others, and his service to our faith."

Forum 18 sent written questions in the afternoon of 16 September to Yalchin Abdullayev, head of the Absheron-Khizi branch of the State Committee, asking why his office had brought charges against the Sumgait resident in early 2026 for exercising freedom of religion or belief, and why Police brought charges against Taleh Sadiqov. Forum 18 had received no response by the end of the working day in Baku of 17 September. Abdullayev did not answer his phone each time Forum 18 called on 17 September.

Sumgait: Will church raid lead to prosecutions?

On 6 September, Yalchin Abdullayev, head of the Absheron-Khizi branch of the State Committee, arrived with Police officers at the place where Peace Protestant Church has met for many years, church members told Forum 18. The official and police officers arrived as church members were preparing for their regular Sunday morning meeting for worship. Officials claimed the Church was meeting "illegally".

Peace Church applied for registration with the State Committee in April 2025. The State Committee has given no formal response to the registration application (as often happens when non-Muslim communities apply for registration).

State Committee officials gave verbal approval for the Church to continue meeting in September 2025.

During the raid, Police stopped one church member from filming and confiscated phones from all those present. They then loaded 30 church members into police vehicles "like dangerous criminals caught in criminal activity" and took them to the police station.

"Everyone was forced to stand in a narrow, unventilated hallway for up to 12 hours," church members noted. "Their faith and their identities were mocked. Bibles, audio Bible radios, and materials confiscated from the church building were forcibly carried into the station by church members, including disabled men and young boys. For hours, it was impossible to contact anyone, drink water, or eat a meal. Only later we got permission to get water and food."

Police did not allow the detained church members to contact others. Other church members found out where they were being held only later and brought them food and water.

Police forced all the detained church members to write statements that they are Christians and members of Peace Church. Officers released them after some hours in detention with no explanation as to why they were held.

Officials complained about that Peace Church had Bibles in storage. "Unused Bibles kept in storage were falsely represented as being distributed without state registration stamps, even though the stamps were next to the boxes," church members noted.

(The authorities keep all religious literature under strict censorship and approved literature must have stickers from the State Committee before it can be distributed.)

Church members do not know if officials will bring cases against them. "They told us that we might get fined," one church member told Forum 18 on 17 September. "But right now they did not contact us about our case and no records of an offence were issued to us."

Sumgait's chief of police did not answer the phone each time Forum 18 called on 17 September.

Abdullayev of the Absheron-Khizi branch of the State Committee did not answer his phone each time Forum 18 called on 17 September.

Baku Yasamal: Court cases for youth meetings

Officials of the 28th Police Department of Baku's Yasamal District Police brought a record of an offence under Administrative Code Article 515.0.3 ("Clergy and members of religious associations holding special meetings for children and young people, as well as the organising or holding by religious bodies of organised labour, literary, or other clubs and groups unassociated with holding religious ceremonies") against three residents of the District.

The cases were handed to the District Court, where Judges heard the cases on 27 February, according to court records. "The person held religious meetings for minor children and youth and organised religious groups," the court decisions read.

Sumgait: Large fine, appeal fails

Officials in Sumgait brought a record of an offence under Administrative Code Article 515.0.3 against a resident of the city. The case was handed to the City Court. A Judge heard the case on 7 May, fining the individual 7,000 Manats, according to court records. The individual was fined as a person acting in an official capacity.

The individual's lawyer lodged an appeal against the fine to Sumgait Appeal Court. However, a Judge rejected the appeal on 9 June.

Baku Khazar: One case

Officials of the Police of Baku's Khazar District brought a record of an offence under Administrative Code Article 515.0.3 against a resident of the District. The case was handed to the District Court, where a Judge heard the case on 15 July, according to court records.

Astara: One case

The head of the Public Security Department of the Police of Astara District in south-eastern Azerbaijan on the border with Iran brought a record of an offence under Administrative Code Article 515.0.3 against a resident of the District. The case was handed to the District Court, where a Judge heard the case on 20 July, according to court records.

ECtHR: Judgments against Azerbaijan, further cases, no payments

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in Strasbourg has found on numerous occasions that the regime has violated individuals' rights to freedom of religion or belief, including by punishing individuals for holding religious meetings that the state has not approved.

In May 2022, the ECtHR accepted Azerbaijan's admission that it had violated the rights of four Jehovah's Witnesses during a 2011 police raid on a meeting for worship and accepted its offer to compensate them. Rashad Niftaliyev, Yegana Gahramanova, Rana Sadigova and Teymur Valiyev were then fined, though Valiyev's fine was waived because of his disability. Each was awarded 3,000 Euros in compensation.

On 18 January 2024, the ECtHR struck out the cases of two Muslims who had been fined in separate cases for holding religious meetings without state permission, Eldeniz Hajiyev (Application No. 21807/18) and Salman Abdullayev (Application No. 38997/22). The regime had agreed a "friendly settlement" with each. The settlement entailed paying each of them 3,800 Euros in compensation, plus 800 Euros in costs. Asabali Mustafayev, a Baku lawyer, represented the two Muslims at the court.

In January 2024, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe decided not to ratify the Azerbaijani delegation's credentials. It cited Azerbaijan's failure to fulfil its major commitments made when joining the Council of Europe, its inability to conduct free and fair elections, weak separation of powers between branches of government, lack of judicial independence, numerous unresolved cases of political prisoners, and humanitarian concerns in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Since then, it appears that the regime has not paid compensation and costs due to individuals as part of ECtHR judgments. Mustafayev, the lawyer who has represented at the Court several Muslims who were punished for exercising freedom of religion or belief, said that the regime paid the compensation to Hajiyev and Abdullayev.

Vugar Rafiyev is a Muslim from Sumgait who reads the works of the late Turkish Muslim theologian Said Nursi. In March 2017, police raided a home in Quba where Muslims who study Nursi's works were meeting and seized religious literature. Almost all of those present were fined in March 2017, including Rafiyev.

Rafiyev lodged his case to the ECtHR in November 2017 (Application No. 81028/17). The Court ruled that his rights had been violated in its 8 July 2025 decision, which became final three months later. It specified 3,000 Euros in compensation plus 1,000 Euros in costs.

"Beginning with Rafiyev, the authorities have not paid," Mustafayev told Forum 18 from Baku on 17 September about those who have received favourable judgments from the ECtHR. "Many people remain unpaid. For two years no one has been paid."

Other cases of people from Azerbaijan whose rights to freedom of religion or belief have been violated remain at the ECtHR.

Following a police raid on a Muslim meeting for worship in the home of Elnur Afandiyev, in October 2022 Quba District Court found him as well as Nurlan Mirzayev, Ayaz Agayev, Amil Gubatov, Sahib Novruzov, Babak Ibrahimov, Shahmar Hajiyev, Ismayil Balakishiyev, Shamkhal Orujev, Telman Almasov and Jafar Madatov guilty under Administrative Code Article 515.0.2 and fined each 1,500 Manats. Sumgait Appeal Court rejected the men's appeals in November 2022.

The men's cases are among those from Azerbaijan pending at the ECtHR. Afandiyev v. Azerbaijan (Application No. 12483/23); Mirzayev v. Azerbaijan (Application No. 12417/23); Agayev v. Azerbaijan (Application No. 12447/23); Gubatov v. Azerbaijan (Application No. 12454/23); Novruzov v. Azerbaijan (Application No. 12471/23); Ibrahimov v. Azerbaijan (Application No. 12478/23); Hajiyev v. Azerbaijan (Application No. 12484/23); Balakishiyev v. Azerbaijan (Application No. 12486/23); Orujev v. Azerbaijan (Application No. 12496/23); Almasov v. Azerbaijan (Application No. 12499/23); and Madatov v. Azerbaijan (Application No. 12508/23). (END)

More reports on freedom of thought, conscience and belief in Azerbaijan

For background information, see Forum 18's Azerbaijan religious freedom survey

Forum 18's compilation of Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) freedom of religion or belief commitments

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