Azerbaijani parliament increases fines for violations of law on religious freedom

The Azerbaijani parliament adopted amendments to the legislation to increase the penalty for violations of the laws on religious freedom: for individuals - 6 times, for officials - up to 16 times.

Currently the penalties envisaged by the Administrative Violations Code are: for individuals - 100-300 manat, for officials - 200-500 manat. The new bill will increase these penalties for individuals - up to 1500-2000 manat, for officials - up to 7000-8000 manat.

A fine of 3-5,000 manat is insignificant for those who use religion in their own interests, MP Agil Abbas said in his speech at the meeting. According to him, it is expedient to liquidate such religious structures. "Today, one religious structure fall on every 10-15 people in Azerbaijan," Abbas said.

There are talks in the society that the MPs move away from religion, the Speaker of the Parliament Oktay Asadov said during the debates.

"The MPs love faith and God. Simply MPs should conduct enlightenment work in society," said Asadov.

According to the amendments, illegal religious literature and other materials will be confiscated, the citizens will be fined from 200 to 400 manat, officials - from 400 to 600, legal entities from 2,000 to 4,000 manat. Foreigners and persons without citizenship will be fined from 200 to 400 manat, or without a fine in an administrative order, will be deported from the country.


/Trend/