Journal Chrétien, France
Feb 2 2007
Azerbaijan Launches Crackdown On Growing Church Movement Of Ex-Muslims
Persecution of Christians has intensfied under Ilham Aliyev, son of
post-independence strongman, Open Doors suggest.
BAKU/BUDAPEST/AMSTERDAM – Authorities in Azerbaijan have launched a
crackdown on a church movement of ex-Muslims which grew from 40 to
18,000 members since the former Soviet republic gained independence
in 1991, an organization supporting the reportedly persecuted
Christian converts said Thursday, February 1.
"Even if you just show a little bit interest in Christianity the
government and your family will take action," said Jeno Sebok,
spokesman of the Netherlands’ based Open Doors group which
investigated the situation of former Muslims-turned-Christians.
In in a statement to BosNewsLife from Open Doors’ headquarters in the
Dutch town of Ermelo. Sebok said his organization has established
that authorities try to prevent "potential conversions" as
"Christianity is seen as the religion of Azerbaijan’s archenemy,
Armenia." After becoming independent sixteen years ago, predominantly
Muslim Azerbaijan fought against mainly Christian Armenia in a bloody
war over the disputed area of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Although a ceasefire was agreed in 1994, tensions remained, analysts
say. Sebok stressed that therefore someone "who becomes a Christian
is immediately seen as a traitor," in Azerbaijan. A reverend, he
said, reported that a television network "aired one month, five times
a day, slander about him." Because of the media pressure, about 200
church members left his congregation, Sebok claimed.
POLICE SURVEILLANCE
In addition authorities have begun to put known Christians under
police surveillance or to harass them, Open Doors said. Several new
believers have been arrested or dismissed from jobs under pressure
from the government and state-controlled media, Christian
investigators said. Family members and employees reportedly also
pressure converts to return to Islam.
Besides, it has become almost impossible for churches to be
officially recognized while even "officially registered"
denominations are often raided by security forces, Open Doors’
investigators established. It is reportedly also difficult to obtain
permission to distribute Bibles and other Christian literature.
There are also other practical difficulties as the Bible’s Old
Testament is only available in the local Azeri language since 2004.
"The Christians are very enthusiastic about Gods Word and to spread
the Gospel. But there is not much knowledge about the Bible," Sebok
explained, adding that Open Doors is involved in Bible and Christian
literature distribution.
SOVIET ERA
The latest developments resemble the era till 1991 when all Christian
activities were forbidden, Christian observers said. Despite these
limitations, Russian Christians apparently managed to spread the
Gospel in limited areas, which formed the basis for a rapidly growing
church movement in the 1990’s and this century.
Azerbaijan is a relative small nation sandwiched between Russia and
Iran with roughly eight million people. For centuries it was occupied
by different nations. Despite its independence and oil wealth, nearly
half of the population live below the poverty line, adding to
difficulties of Christians. Sebok said that Open Doors is therefore
involved in "social-economic programs to help believers facing
difficulties."
The country has been ruled by Ilham Aliyev who took over as president
from his father, Heydar, in 2003. When his father died, Ilham was
already prime minister, vice chairman of the state oil company and
deputy leader of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP).
Although he won the 2003 presidential elections by a landslide,
Western observers said the campaign was overshadowed by voter
intimidation, violence and media bias. Opposition demonstrations were
met with police violence and there were many reported arrests.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress