Azerbaijan to tighten penalties for attempts to change power and Constitution on religious grounds

  13 October 2016    Read: 773
Azerbaijan to tighten penalties for attempts to change power and Constitution on religious grounds
Azerbaijan will tighten penalties for attempts to force people to embrace religious beliefs, to hold religious rites, to join religious movement, to receive religious education on the grounds of religious fanaticism and radicalism.
Amendments proposed to the Criminal Code and Code of Administrative Offences of Azerbaijan regarding the violation of the law on religious freedom were discussed at the joint meeting of the parliamentary Committee on legal policy and state building, and the Committee on public associations and religious organizations.

According to the annex proposed to Article 167-1.4 of the Criminal Code, those forcing people to embrace any religious belief, to hold and take part in religious rites and ceremonies, to join religious movement, to receive religious education on the grounds of religious hatred, fanaticism and radicalism will be fined AZN 7,000 up to 9,000 or sentenced from 2 up to 5 year in prison.

According to the amendment proposed to Article 167-1.2, people forcing individuals to become a member of any religious organization or preventing him from leaving this organization will be fined AZN 5,000 up to 10,000 or sentenced up to 5 year in prison.

According to the annex proposed to Article 278.2 proposed to the Criminal Code, people will be sentenced from 15 up to 20 year in prison or life imprisonment over attempts for changing the Constitution of Azerbaijan Republic, violent change of constitutional grounds of the states, infringement of territorial integrity and forced seizure of power on the grounds of religious hatred, fanaticism and radicalism.

The draft laws were recommended to the parliament’s plenary session.

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