BAKU, Azerbaijan – On Tuesday, April 22, 2025, six members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light were forcefully arrested in Baku after peacefully expressing their faith in Jafar Jabbarly Square. The group, consisting of Hasan Javadov, Sani Hasanov, Fagan Rahimov, Sahib Mirzayev, Teymur Aliyev, and Konul Demirova, raised banners linking to the official AROPL Youtube Channel, a public act of faith that was met with aggressive repression by Azerbaijani law enforcement.
The incident, which was livestreamed on TikTok Live, showed plainclothes officers confronting the individuals before two uniformed police officers arrived and violently tore down the banners and detained the participants. A bystander video also captured one of the members being forcefully dragged, carried away, and stuffed into a police van. The livestream has since spread among members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL), sparking outrage and widespread concern over the treatment of peaceful believers.
This is not the first instance of religious persecution in Azerbaijan. In 2024, 11 Azeri members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light were arbitrarily detained in Fountain Square while peacefully preaching about their faith. Two of them, Rustam Gasimli and Neriman Shabanzade, were subjected to enforced disappearance, brutal beatings, and sexual assault while in detention. Despite video evidence showing their peaceful conduct, the two were sentenced to 30 days in prison on fabricated charges of “hooliganism” and “disobedience to a police officer.” Their arrest sparked international demonstrations and legal appeals to the European Court of Human Rights.
These incidents, among others, have been highlighted in the 2025 report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which expressed serious concerns over Azerbaijan’s treatment of religious minorities, particularly members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light.
“We strongly condemn this blatant violation of our members’ fundamental rights to freedom of religion and expression,” said Hadil El-Khouly, Human Rights Outreach Coordinator for the organization. “Our members were dragged off the streets and silenced simply for proclaiming their faith. The use of force, public humiliation, and continued detention are deeply concerning.”
As of now, the six members arrested on Tuesday remain in custody, and their whereabouts are unknown. The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light urges international human rights organizations and the global community to intervene and demand their immediate release.
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