Photo via saga.ua

Azerbaijan pastor remains jailed despite new investigation

Authorities in Azerbaijan have opened a new investigation into the June 22 arrest of a Baptist pastor, according to Rev. Ilya Zenchenko, president of the Azerbaijan Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists, reports Jeremy Reynalds, correspondent for ASSIST News Service.

Azerbaijan is located in Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia, with a small European portion north of the Caucasus range.

The Slavic Gospel Association (SGA) reported in a news release that Pastor Hamid Shabanov was charged with having an illegal weapon following a police raid on his house in the village of Aliabad. Church leaders insist that the charges are false, and were trumped up because of opposition to evangelical churches in the town and region.

The SGA said that according to Zenchenko, the new investigation is good news, but Shabanov remains jailed, pending the outcome.

Zenchenko said in the news release, “After Hamid’s arrest on June 22, the authorities announced their intention to hold Hamid for two months while they investigated the matter. Thanks to the work of our lawyer, we were able to show the judge multiple procedural violations, including falsified signatures affixed to several transcripts and statements.”

He added, “The judge ordered the case to be delayed for further investigation. On Aug. 22, the two-month period ended, but the court extended Hamid’s detention until Oct. 22. This provided us the opportunity to reject the proceedings and to petition for the transfer of the case to a judge in another jurisdiction.”

The news release stated that Zenchenko said Shabanov has now been reassigned to the neighboring region of Balakansky, where they have been able to meet with local police officials and obtain promises for more humane conditions while Shabanov is jailed, and for a more objective investigation of the case.

SGA said all the witnesses are being questioned again, both prosecution and defense witnesses.

Zenchenko also expressed his concern over the relative silence of international human rights organizations, and is asking for worldwide support.

He said in the news release, “With God’s help, I hope that these organizations will exert their influence on this process and on the laws of Azerbaijan. I again beseech all of you to seek out opportunities now, and to not delay until the termination of these proceedings. Contact the leaders of our nation, and support the right of Baptist churches to worship and minister freely.”

SGA is an interdenominational mission which has been working in the former Soviet Union since 1934. SGA has served churches in Russia through pastor and lay leader training, sponsorship of national church planters and provision of Christian literature.

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TAGS: Azerbaijan persecution Slavic Gospel Association Pastor Hamid Shabanov arrest

[09/30/2008]

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