European Azerbaijan Center rejects USCIRF’s allegations of religious restrictions

The European Azerbaijan Center has issued a statement rejecting the allegations made against Azerbaijan in the March 25, 2025, report by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).

The Center criticised the report as biased and unbalanced, stating that it disregards Azerbaijan’s deep-rooted traditions of religious tolerance, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

The statement emphasised that all religious communities in Azerbaijan enjoy equal rights, with over 900 registered religious organisations, approximately 30% of which are non-Muslim. The presence of Orthodox and Catholic churches, synagogues, and other religious institutions in Baku and throughout the country, it noted, is clear evidence of Azerbaijan’s commitment to religious diversity and freedom.

The European Azerbaijan Center firmly refuted USCIRF’s claims that Azerbaijan restricts religious freedoms, denies registration to non-Muslim communities, and threatens Armenian religious heritage in Karabakh. The statement referenced a 2023 UN mission’s findings, which officially confirmed that no religious or cultural sites in Khankendi had been damaged.

Furthermore, the Center criticised USCIRF for overlooking the extensive destruction of mosques and Islamic heritage sites during Armenia’s 30-year occupation of Azerbaijani territories. It affirmed that Azerbaijan’s policies against religious extremism adhere to national laws and security measures.

The statement also highlighted Azerbaijan’s active engagement in promoting interfaith dialogue and religious tolerance through initiatives such as the "Baku Process," international forums, and interreligious summits.

“Reports like the one dated March 25, 2025, which twist facts and ignore context, do not serve peace or understanding — they fuel division and mistrust. We firmly reject such an approach and call on the international community to view Azerbaijan through an objective and truthful lens,” the European Azerbaijan Center declared in its statement.

By Vugar Khalilov