Chairman of the Committee on Human Rights of the Azerbaijani Milli Majlis, professor Rabiyyat Aslanova had a press conference and made the following announcement:
“Appropriate structures, officials, including myself, as chairman of the Committee on Human Rights of the Milli Majlis, expressed their attitude to the comment of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe Convention on the Law of Azerbaijan Republic “On freedom of religion”.
According to her, the laws on freedom of religion are borrowed from the experience of the secular state. She noted that the secular state is a very important achievement not only of modern civilization, but also the people of Azerbaijan.
The Chairman of the Committee said that freedom of religion is fixed in Clause 9 of the Convention, while the second part of this section for the first time reflects the provisions that restrict the freedom of religion, and they consist of the following:
“Freedom to manifest one’s religion or beliefs shall be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety – for the protection of public order, health or morals or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.” Thus, each state may impose restrictions under the above self-interest, and this number cannot be expanded”.
