The State Security Service of Azerbaijan and the district police department
have conducted
a raid in the town of Gabala (in the north-west of the country). Two men, Bahruz Gasimov and Elman Tahirov, were detained on suspicion of religious extremist activities.
According to the report, 77 pieces of banned religious literature, 11 video and audio cassettes, 14 CDs, and a stash of home-made weapons were found during searches conducted in their homes. The physical evidence seized has been sent to the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations for forensic assessment.
On 4 December 2015, the Azerbaijani parliament
passed
a law called, “On Combating Religious Extremism.” Under this legislation, law enforcement bears no responsibility during a raid for the injury or death of religious extremists. In addition, law enforcement officers who participate in the fight against religious extremism are not liable for property damage caused while conducting a raid.
