Azerbaijan, Baku, June 12 / Trend M. Aliyev /
A commission on religious organizations registration must be established in Azerbaijan, Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Oktay Asadov said while discussing the changes to the law "Freedom of religion".
"Many European countries have similar commissions," he said. "They consider the received appeals."
Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee for Human Rights Rabiyyat Aslanova submitted the amendments to the law. She stressed that after gaining independence, Azerbaijan has set a goal to create a secular state. The law adopted in 1992 and later amended includes the issues of freedom of religion.
She said that the bill provides for making 19 changes in the relevant articles of the law.
The proposed addition to the seventh article of the law stressed that the Islamic religious bodies operating in Azerbaijan must submit a report on their activity to the the Caucasus Muslim Board. Other religious structures, including non-Islamic religious structures must submit reports to the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations or the Ministry of Justice.
"The report will reflect the common spiritual state of the given religious structure," Aslanova said.
According to the proposed additions to the law, religious organizations can operate only in places of worship listed as a legal address in the documents submitted for the state registration. These religious bodies can function after a religious center or office appoint a religious figure.
"Religious structures are constantly developing," Aslanova said.According to the changes, religious buildings and other property under state ownership can be transferred to religious organizations for free use.
MP Fazail Agamali stressed the need to expand the powers of the Caucasus Muslims Office. Deputy Chairman of the Caucasian Muslims Office Haji Sabir Hasanli said that the changes to the law "Freedom of religion" must be made in accordance with the requirements of time.