13:30, 30 June 2005

Religious leader detained

Azerbaijani police detained today Ilgar Ibrahimoglu, a human rights defender and Juma mosque imam. He was released when human rights advocates interfered. Human rights defender Saida Gojamanly said the reason for detaining Ilgar Ibrahimoglu was that he came to the Juma mosque together with a group of believers to mark one year since the community was banished from this mosque.

The believers put down flowers and started to perform a namaz. At this moment, around 40 police officers dispersed the believers and detained Ibrahimoglu.

It should be noted in the first half of the day Juma community members had held a protest action in front of the State Committee for Work with Religious Structures. The action was timed to the first anniversary of their forcible eviction from the Juma mosque in Icheri-sheher. The action had been peaceful and the police had not interfered, although the authorities had not authorised it.

More about Azerbaijan:

Religious Freedom in Azerbaijan, 2004

Author: Zaur Rasulzade, CK correspondent