The leaders of two small Baptist churches in north-west Azerbaijan have been given heavy fines for holding worship services – and threatened with even tougher penalties unless they stop. At a hearing on Good Friday, judges fined pastors Zaur Balayev and Hamid Shabanov 1,500 AZN (£1,270) each. The average wage in Azerbaijan is £200 a month. The two pastors have suffered persecution for more than 15 years, according to Archbishop Malkhaz Songulashvili of the Evangelical Baptist Church of Georgia. They have also been warned that if they do not comply with the decision of the court they will be either fined for a bigger amount or arrested. Archbishop Malkhaz said restrictions on religious liberty could get 'out of control' unless the court decision was challenged by international organisations. Pastor Hamid was briefly detained in November when police raided a church meeting at his house (Prayer Alert, November 9). The two pastors plan to appeal against the court decision.
Pray: that God will strengthen the persecuted church (Ps.23:4) May He unite church leaders and international organisations to bring about religious freedom in Azerbaijan. (Ps.23:3)