Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend S.Ilhamgizi / An annual report issued by the US Department of State will not have the same impact on public opinion as in previous years, Ilgar Ibrahimoglu, an Azerbaijani law-defender, and chairman of the Center for Protection of Freedom of Consciousness and religious beliefs DEVAMM said.
The US Department of State circulated a report on 15 September, which stated a restriction of religious rights in Azerbaijan.
"The Constitution provides for persons of all faiths may choose and practice their religion without restriction; however, there were some abuses and restrictions," the document stressed.
Some religious groups reported delays in and denials of registration. As in previous years, there continued to be some limitations upon the ability of groups to import religious literature. Local or SCWRA officials often raised particular obstacles to Baptists, Jehovah's Witnesses and members of Assemblies of God who attempted to register, worship or perform alternative civilian services as conscientious objectors State Committee on Work with Religious Associations (SCWRA). The report also fixes a restriction in the activities of Muslim religious organizations.
Ibrahimoglu said in talks with Trend last weekend that over the past few years Bush Administration's moral rights for such recommendations has fallen down considerably despite there being numerous worthy people among the authors of the report who implement the law-defense mission perfectly. With respect to the situation with human rights and freedom of consciousness in Azerbaijan, Ibrahimoglu assured that there is well known dramatic situation and no need to apply to documents of international organizations to understand it. "I would like to mention the problem with hijab. It is really absurd that women believers have not been allowed over the past 9 years to take photos in head-gear for passports and identification cards. No problems of this kind exist in other CIS countries," Ibrahimoglu said. Even in Kyrgyzstan and Russia after a short ban the authorities compromised and decided to observe the right for hijab, which is a fundamental right for freedom of consciousness.
The head of DEVAMM said that following the commencement of the new school year, heads of educational institutions raised the problems of students in hijab. There is data on the pressures on pupils in some schools in connection with hijab. "We should observe human rights and freedom of consciousness. Guarantee of constitutional rights and freedom of citizens is a major constitutional mission of the country," the law-defender said.