U.S. Adds Azerbaijan to List of Countries Under Special Watch Due to Religious Issues Post-Artsakh Capture

The United States has included Azerbaijan in its list of countries under special watch due to issues surrounding religious freedom. This decision is based on Baku's involvement or tolerance of serious violations related to religious freedom following its control over Nagorno-Karabakh, according to France 24.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated yesterday that, in addition to Azerbaijan, the list also includes the Central African Republic, Comoros, and Vietnam, as reported by the French agency.

This official decision from Washington followed concerns expressed by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom regarding the preservation of Christian sacred sites in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The commission has also raised concerns about the regulations concerning religious activities in the predominantly Muslim country led by President Ilham Aliyev. This specifically pertains to the registration of religious organizations and the official approval requirements for their literature.