Azerbaijani religious leaders reject U.S. report on religious freedom

 Religious leaders in Azerbaijan have criticised the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) over claims بشأن the country’s religious situation in its 2026 annual report, calling them unfounded.

In a joint statement, they said allegations of violations of religious freedom in Azerbaijan in 2025 “do not reflect reality” and represent a biased view that ignores the country’s efforts to promote religious tolerance.

The statement stressed that Azerbaijan remains committed to multiculturalism, with its constitution guaranteeing equal rights and freedoms regardless of religion, and noted that representatives of different faiths operate freely, while the state supports the construction and restoration of places of worship.

It also said that restoration efforts related to historical and religious monuments in Karabakh and East Zangezur were not presented objectively in the report.

The authors highlighted Azerbaijan’s role in promoting interfaith dialogue internationally, including hosting initiatives such as the Baku Process and global forums.

They called on the U.S. side to reconsider its assessment and take into account Azerbaijan’s contributions to religious tolerance.

The USCIRF publishes annual reports assessing the state of religious freedom worldwide.

Gulnar