Legal measures taken against foreigners organizing illegal religious propaganda activities

Legal measures have been taken against foreign nationals engaged in illegal religious propaganda activities in Azerbaijan, according to a joint statement by the State Security Service and the State Migration Service.

The statement noted that, based on intelligence regarding foreign citizens conducting religious propaganda in violation of Azerbaijani legislation, the two agencies conducted joint operations.

It was established that foreign nationals affiliated with a religious center located abroad—Shaikh Muhammad Hanif (born in 1968), Kareem Bux (born in 1981), and Channa Taj Muhammad (born in 1968)—were engaged in disseminating ideas related to non-traditional religious movements. They also organized unauthorized closed religious gatherings and ceremonies within the country.

The collected materials confirmed that these individuals had acted in violation of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Freedom of Religious Belief." Consequently, their activities were halted, and they were deported from Azerbaijan in accordance with Article 79.1.2 of the Migration Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan.