BAKU, Azerbaijan – On Tuesday, April 22, 2025, six members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light were arrested in Baku after peacefully expressing their faith in Jafar Jabbarly Square. The individuals, identified as Hasan Javadov, Sani Hasanov, Fagan Rahimov, Sahib Mirzayev, Teymur Aliyev, and Konul Demirova, were detained by Azerbaijani law enforcement while holding banners linking to the official AROPL Youtube Channel. This public act of faith was met with forceful repression by plainclothes officers followed by the arrival of two uniformed police officers who tore down the banners and violently detained the participants.
The entire incident was live-streamed on TikTok Live, including the moment of the arrests. A bystander also captured footage of one of the members being forcefully dragged, carried away, and placed into a police van. The livestream has since spread among members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, sparking outrage and widespread concern over the treatment of peaceful believers.
This latest crackdown is part of a growing pattern 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 sharing their faith. Two of the members, Rustam Gasimli and Neriman Shabanzade, were subjected to enforced disappearance, brutal beatings, and sexual assault while in detention. Despite video evidence showing peaceful conduct, both were sentenced to 30 days in prison on fabricated charges of “hooliganism” and “disobedience to a police officer.” Their arrest sparked international demonstrations, including protests by AROPL members in Poland and Germany, as well as legal appeals to the European Court of Human Rights.
These incidents, along with others, were cited by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) in its 2025 report, which raised 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,” stated Hadil El-Khouly, Human Rights Outreach Coordinator for the organization. “Our members were unjustly silenced and detained 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.
