Law Enforcement and the Politics of Religious Minority Rights in Azerbaijan

Across post-Soviet countries, laws governing the practice of religion differ. However, these laws are not always a good predictor of the level of discrimination against religious minorities. Simply knowing the legal provisions and strictures on religious liberties may not allow us to determine which congregations are more likely to experience discriminatory treatment from local law enforcement. While laws guaranteeing religious freedoms are violated on a regular basis, some groups are more likely to be discriminated against by state agents than others. On the basis of original interview data and legal records, this article will demonstrate that popular attitudes toward given religious minorities affect law enforcement behavior vis-à-vis those minorities in Azerbaijan.