State enforces control over religious entities

The Regulations of the State Committee on Religious Affairs, launched by a presidential decree of June 21, were published by national newspapers Monday.

According to the document, the committee is a central executive body in charge of pursuing the state religious policy. The decisions passed by the committee are mandatory for other central and local authorities, as well as physical and legal entities engaged in religious activities.

Defined as the committee’s key mission is creation of suitable conditions for the freedom of religion, as stipulated in Article 48 of the Azerbaijan Constitution. The committee is also to exercise control over the observance of legal acts pertaining to the freedom of religion.

The regulations outline key objectives, functions, rights and responsibilities of the committee.

The conventional division of creeds in three key confessions – Muslim, Christian and Jewish – seems to be gradually disappearing as various sects are springing up. For instance, the Sunni and Shiite trends have become more discernable, while the Wahabi threat has spread to various missionary activities. Besides, missionary activity is assuming alarming proportions, as countless pastors and preachers try to entice ignorant and needy population to their sects. Commercialization of religious shrines, including mosques, is in full swing. All this put together has necessitated the establishment of an entity to exercise control over mosques and religious communities.*