Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 8 / Trend K.Zarbaliyeva /
Azerbaijan issued certificates to another 27 religious communities that passed re-registration.
In this regard, State Committee for Working with Religious Associations Chairman Hidayat Orujov handed the certificates over to the representatives of the religious communities.
The Azerbaijani parliament adopted additions and amendments to the law on "Freedom of Religion" at the last parliamentary session.
According to the additions, Article 18 of the Azerbaijani Constitution bans the spread and propaganda of religions humiliating human dignity or contradicting principles of humanity. All religious communities can act only after they have been registered with the relevant bodies of the executive power and included in the state register of religious organizations.
Roughly 102 religious communities, including 101 Islamic and one Jewish religious community, were registered in Azerbaijan in 2008. The number of religious organizations has reached 534 in Azerbaijan.
Most of the 27 religious communities are Islamic communities functioning in the regions.
The Baku religious community of Azerbaijani Jews "Krishna Consciousness" was one of the communities to pass re-registration this year.
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