Azerbaijan, Baku, December 28 / Trend , K.Zarbaliyeva /
The deadline for registration of religious communities in Azerbaijan will not be extended increase, said the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations.
"This deadline was defined by the law, and amending the law is in disposal the Parliament. The religious communities have had enough time to comply with the law," the head of the State Committee Gunduz Ismayilov told Trend on Dec. 28.
During the spring session of Parliament, amendments were made to the Law on freedom of religion.
According to the additions, Article 18 of the Azerbaijani Constitution bans the spread and propaganda of religions humiliating human dignity or contradicting principles of humanity. All religious communities can act only after they have been registered with the relevant bodies of the executive power and included in the state register of religious organizations.
According Ismayilov, more than 600 religious communities appealed to the Committee for re-registration. According to him, the Committee will appeal to the court for the liquidation of religious communities not appealing for re-registration by January 1.
Ismayilov said that up to now, 120 religious communities have been re-registered. Currently the appeals of over 400 religious communities are being considered.
Roughly 102 religious communities, including 101 Islamic and one Jewish religious community, were registered in Azerbaijan in 2008. The number of religious organizations has reached 534 in Azerbaijan.
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