Stan Posted January 21, 2011 Posted January 21, 2011 In Azerbaijan, Adventists Questioned, Accused of Illegal Worship, Evangelism Loopholes frustrate registration process for minority religions Source Tensions between Seventh-day Adventists and government authorities in Azerbaijan increased in December 2010 when officials interrupted a church worship service in Sumgait to question members. State authorities reportedly searched the meeting place, confiscating church property -- including hundreds of books and DVDs -- and accusing members of meeting illegally. Officials have conducted similar seizures of church property in recent years. Religious liberty advocates said the incident stems from a recent parliamentary vote, which sharply increases fines for unauthorized worship and evangelism in the country. State officials told Forum 18 News that the congregation did not have the required permission to meet. Azerbaijan's constitution allows for religious freedom, but only for registered faith groups whose churches have official permission to meet. While Adventists have sought registration for the Sumgait congregation since 2003, the process is fraught with delays and denials, local religious liberty advocates said. Despite repeated meetings with authorities, registration applications are always returned or met with silence, they said. Next, local church leaders plan to meet with Azerbaijan's Secretary of Religious Affairs, hoping to find a solution. "We hope that the authorities will recognize the right of a community of believers -- which is not a threat to the security of the state -- to exist and worship according to its traditions," said John Graz, director of the Adventist world church's department of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty. Source Quote If you receive benefit to being here please help out with expenses. https://www.paypal.me/clubadventist Administrator of a few websites like https://adventistdating.com
doug yowell Posted January 21, 2011 Posted January 21, 2011 Isn't this a result of the predominating Muslim influence in the governing of Azerbaijan? They definitely need some Divine intervention. Quote
TreeOfLife Posted January 21, 2011 Posted January 21, 2011 Tree of Life © This is a Matter of Propriety and Ultimate Responsibility... It is a Matter greatly Underrated and Underappreciated! To 'register' one's name in someone else's registry is the very same as to transfer one's ownership, responsibility, and ultimate rights of decision making to that other party. To 'apply' for registration is the same as to provide proof to the other party that the other party owns the right to decide one way or the other re the matter applied for. Thus, whether or not the application is approved, the applicant may be presumed to consider him or her self a subject under and within the jurisdiction of the owner of the registry. In effect this means that any time the party in authority makes any arbitrary decision, for good or for bad, for instance by prohibiting meetings on the Seventh Day, or by prohibiting "unauthorized meetings," that is, "meeting illegally," they are free to do so - based upon what is being perceived as an a priori agreement by both parties! The one and only effective remedy is to do the very opposite: That is, to not register and to not apply! And, if such measures have already been done, to rescind and make nugatory every such application ASAP! Such actions can be made to be effective ab initio if it is discovered that such applications were unlawful in the first place, typically by being contrary to one or all of God's own first three commandments, which commandments do indeed have everything to do with claims of proprietary ownership. Cf. this link if you will, where I am expanding a bit on this particular issue... Consider it! Selah! Remember the US "blue laws" that are on the books - even while perhaps not currently, not yet... being enforced! Remember 9-11! Tree of Life © PS. Suppose one day soon something like what's being envisioned by someone at this link were to actually come to be... Tree of Life © Quote http://adamoh.org
TreeOfLife Posted January 21, 2011 Posted January 21, 2011 Tree of Life © Indeed, a Matter that is Perhaps even Being Suppressed? Cf. the hidden meaning of the Lord's Prayer! Tree of Life © Quote http://adamoh.org
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