
Shiite Muslims arrested in Azerbaijan as authorities reportedly crack down on hijabs in schools
Samir Babayev, a member of the Muslim Unity Movement, told his family that he was tortured by police after being arrested on drug charges.

Samir Babayev, a member of the Muslim Unity Movement, told his family that he was tortured by police after being arrested on drug charges.

Azerbaijani authorities have reportedly arrested 32 Shia men as tensions with neighbouring Iran continue to mount. According to identical articles published across multiple pro-government media outlets on Monday, the men had planned to overthrow the government and create a religious state in Azerbaijan The arrests came as tensions continued to flare between Azerbaijan and Iran. Periods of increased tension have frequently preceded crackdown on Shia religious figures in the country. Accordi

Georgian Shia Muslim leader and frequent government critic Mirtaghi Asadov was arrested in Azerbaijan last week under unclear circumstances. Local rights groups have questioned the Azerbaijani Government account of his arrest and demanded Georgia intervene. On Wednesday, over 14 Georgian rights groups, including GYLA, EMC, and TDI, urged Tbilisi to ‘immediately take all measures’ to ensure Azerbaijan grants Asadov a fair trial, access to a lawyer and family members, and his protection from

Salakh Mezhiyev, the head of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Chechnya said on 24 April that there would be no other branches of Islam present in Chechnya, except Sunni Islam. He alleged that the Iranian embassy in Russia distributed missionary literature in order to recruit new followers in its ranks. Mezhiyev published his statement on his official accounts on YouTube and Instagram. Mezhiyev said that Iran was the major actor behind the spread of Shiism in Russia. He all