 Pray that the Religion Law will not stop the spread of the Gospel in Azerbaijan. Photo: s_falkow / Flickr |
On January 9th, Greater Grace Protestant Church in Azerbaijan's capital of Baku lost its final appeal against closure. This means that any further religious activity carried out by the church is now considered illegal according to the recent Supreme Court ruling. Unfortunately, those representing the congregation no longer have any more options available to further challenge this ruling through the court system.
During the brief hearing, the appointed judge disregarded the church's appeal against an earlier court order that mandated its closure for violating the 2009 Religion Law. This harsh law requires that all religious communities re-register, including those previously registered through the Justice Ministry. Without state permission, such operations are considered illegal and, therefore, fined accordingly. (Fines for violations against the Religion Law have increased dramatically since 2010.) The outcome of this case now sets a worrying legal precedent for other Christian churches in Azerbaijan. For previous reports, go to the Azerbaijan Country Report.
Pray for the members of Greater Grace Church as they now consider their future. In the process, may they experience a strong sense of God's presence, in addition to His wisdom and guidance in this situation. Also pray that Azerbaijan's state officials will put an end to the abuses against religious rights, including those officially upheld in the country's constitution.
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