Court Hearing for Pastor

Pastor Shabanov 

 Pastor Hamid Shabanov
and the prison where he is being held

On June 20, Pastor Hamid Shabanov was arrested for possession of an illegal weapon -- a gun that Shabanov's family insists was planted by police (read the story). According to VOMC sources, in a July 22 hearing Shabanov's lawyer informed the court that documents were being withheld from him, thus hindering his defense. In response the judge ordered a recess until July 28.

Continue to pray that the truth behind these charges will be revealed and that Pastor Shabanov will be released.

To read more on the persecution of Christians in Azerbaijan, go to the Azerbaijan Country Report.

  • Country Information

    Population
    10,420,515 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity (%)
    Azerbaijani (91.6), Lezghin (2), Russian (1.3), Armenian (1.3), Talysh (1.3), other (2.4)

    Religions (%)
    Islam (97.3), Christianity (2.6), other (0.1)

    Leader
    President Ilham Aliyev (2003)

    Government type
    Presidential republic

    Legal system
    Civil law system

    Source: CIA World Factbook

  • Pray for Azerbaijan

    Pray for peace within the hearts of the Azerbaijani people who are living amid political instability. May the country's governmental authorities be willing to grant Christians their fundamental freedoms, enabling them to worship freely and share their faith openly with others of their communities.

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Azerbaijan News

  • Christian Worship Locations Demolished
    A light grey cathedral is highlighted against a blue sky.
    Photo: Flickr / David Stanley (CC)

    In mid--April, reports began to circulate that two significant places of worship had been demolished in Stepanakert, the capital located within the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Recent satellite imagery has since confirmed that the Holy Mother of God Cathedral and the Church of St. Jacob have been completely destroyed.

    Read more...

  • Churches Continue to Await Registration
    Open water is in the distance. A crowd on the beach can be seen between two tall buildings.
    Sumgait, Azerbaijan.
    Photo: Pexels / Smart World

    In April, the leadership representing Peace Church in Sumgait, Azerbaijan, submitted a formal application for registration with the government, a legal requirement for conducting worship and other religious activities within the country. However, more than five months later, the church remains in legal limbo. The state committee responsible for processing such registrations is refusing to process the application. Instead, the church has been warned that any unregistered religious activity is forbidden and will consequently result in punishment.

    Read more...

  • Fines for Unapproved Religious Meetings
    A group of people are studying together.
    Pray that Christians in Azerbaijan will continue to meet.
    Photo: VOMC Source

    A court in the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhichevan recently fined two local Christians and three visitors from the capital city of Baku for participating in a worship gathering without state permission. The ruling was announced on June 19th, two months after authorities raided the home of a Korean family where the believers had assembled for worship. The court also fined and deported members of the Korean family for hosting Christian meetings in their residence.

    Read more...

  • Christian Community Authorized to Meet After Many Years
    Hamid Shabanov - Photo: World Watch Monitor www.worldwatchmonitor.org
    Pastor Hamid Shabanov
    Photo: World Watch Monitor

    The Baptist community in the village of Aliabad understands what it means to wait patiently. For 25 years, these believers have sought legal status but were repeatedly ignored or denied. Police have regularly raided their church meetings and seized religious literature. Despite the opposition, the church continued to gather for teaching and worship while attempting to get official status.

    Read more...

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