Azerbaijan, Baku / Тrend corr S. Ilhamgizi / Hajiagha Nury, the chairman of the Azerbaijani Islamic Party (AIP), reported on 1 May that the party would apply to international courts due to failure to get a state registration. According to Nury, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Justice has not had the AIP registered since 1995.
Nury noted that the documents will be submitted to the Ministry once more after the 6th congress of the party, which will be held in the summer. In case the appeal is rejected the party will apply to the international courts. "Being Azerbaijani citizens we would not like to resolve interior problems outside of Azerbaijan, therefore harming the image of the country. However, the situation forces us to do just that," the chairman added.
The opposition AIP was formed in August, 1991 and registered by the Ministry of Justice in 1992. The refusal to provide the party with a state registration is down to the participation of the AIP in the parliamentary elections of 1995.