Good News in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan (MNN) ? Christians across Azerbaijan live under the threat of government harassment. The country's religion laws can be harsh, imposing severe penalties on violators. Many church leaders encounter legal problems and jail time.
Take, for example, the recent case of Pastor Hamid Shabanov, charged with allegedly holding an illegal weapon -- an accusation strongly refuted by his congregation. Authorities transferred Shabanov from prison to house arrest shortly after a November 5th hearing at the Zakatala District Court in northwestern Azerbaijan. After multiple delays, Forum 18 indicates the trial is scheduled to resume November 17.
Shabanov's difficulties are not unusual. The government forbids expatriate Christians to engage in what they call "religious propaganda," and there are severe restrictions on distribution of literature for "nontraditional" religious groups.