Azerbaijan's Strict Social Norms And Laws Explained

Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a transcontinental country located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and West Asia. While the vast majority of the country's population (97%) is nominally Muslim, the Constitution of Azerbaijan does not declare an official religion, and the country is largely secular. However, the country has been criticised for its human rights record, with the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, in power since 1993, accused of authoritarianism and worsening the country's human rights record, including increasing restrictions on civil liberties, particularly on press freedom and political repression.

Azerbaijan has been described as not free by Freedom House, who ranked it 7/100 on the Global Freedom Score in 2024, and its government functions as an authoritarian regime in practice. The country has been ruled by the Aliyev political family and the New Azerbaijan Party since 1993. The government has been hostile towards dissenting voices, targeting critics and political opponents with dubious charges, and restrictive laws continue to impede the operations of nongovernmental organisations.

Azerbaijan is considered conservative, and public displays of affection may not be welcome. Same-sex relations are legal but are not widely accepted, and LGBT+ people may face discrimination, intolerance, or violence. Additionally, it is illegal to convert a person to another faith in Azerbaijan.

The government has been accused of authoritarianism and worsening the country's human rights record

The government of Azerbaijan has been accused of authoritarianism and worsening the country's human rights record. The country's ruling party, the New Azerbaijan Party, has been in power since 1993, under the leadership of Heydar Aliyev and, since his death in 2003, his son Ilham Aliyev.

The government has been accused of increasing restrictions on civil liberties, particularly on press freedom and political repression. Azerbaijan's press freedom status is "not free", and the country ranks 177th out of 196 countries in this regard. Foreign broadcasts are banned in the country, and journalists face violence, harassment, and imprisonment.

Azerbaijan has also been criticised for its treatment of the LGBTQI+ community, with reports of violence and discrimination against LGBTQI+ individuals.

The government has further been accused of worsening the country's human rights record through election fraud, high levels of economic inequality, and domestic corruption.

The country is largely secular, but religion is considered a private matter

Azerbaijan is a largely secular country, despite the vast majority of its population (97%) being nominally Muslim. The Constitution of Azerbaijan does not declare an official religion, and all major political forces in the country are secular. Religion is considered a private matter, and while Islam does not have a significant influence on society, it is connected with life, and it is wrong to associate it only with funerals and commemorations.

Theologian Elshad Miri notes that Azerbaijan was influenced by long years of living under the Soviet regime with its atheistic thinking. He also observes that religion has a much greater influence in the south of the country, which is associated with the close proximity of this region to Iran. In addition, the influence of religion is more apparent in separate quarters or settlements where believers live in density. Among the suburban settlements of Baku, Nardaran stands out in this respect.

While most people in Azerbaijan live without fulfilling the five obligatory conditions of Islam, when they die, everyone must be buried according to Muslim traditions. This perception of Islam as a religion of mourning is further reinforced by the fact that mosques are often used for praying, bathing the dead, or holding wakes. However, Elshad Miri believes that the attitude towards mosques needs to change, and he cites examples from other countries where mosques serve multiple purposes, such as having a gym, a teahouse, or even a bathhouse within the complex.

In Azerbaijan, most people, when starting a family, register their union with both the state and the mosque. There are also married couples who ignore state registration and are content with only a religious marriage, or kabin. According to the law, mullahs have the right to register a marriage according to Muslim customs only upon the presentation of a certificate of state registration.

The current head of the Caucasian Muslim Board, Allahshukur Pashazade, was initially well-respected by the people for taking a tough stand against the Soviet leadership in Moscow during a tragedy in January 1990, when units of the Soviet army were brought into Baku and 146 people were killed in the fighting. However, the Board's subsequent cooperation with the authorities reduced its popularity and influence in society. A period of rivalry began when the authorities created a parallel structure, the State Committee for Work with Religious Institutions, systematically weakening the position of the Caucasian Muslims Board.

While Azerbaijan is largely secular, it is important to respect local traditions, customs, laws, and religions at all times. During the holy month of Ramadan, pay extra attention to ensure your actions are culturally sensitive. Be aware that in Baku, local and foreign women usually dress in Western-style clothing, while outside of Baku, it is frowned upon for men to wear shorts in the summer months.

Homosexuality is not illegal, but LGBT+ people tend to keep a low profile

Azerbaijan is a transcontinental country in Eastern Europe and Western Asia with a population that is 97% Muslim. While homosexuality is not illegal in Azerbaijan, the country has been ranked as the worst state in Europe for LGBTQ+ rights protection. Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity is not banned, and same-sex marriage is not recognised. Same-sex couples are not allowed to adopt children, and transgender people are not allowed to change their legal gender on official documents.

LGBTQ+ people in Azerbaijan face high rates of violence, harassment, and discrimination. In 2017, police in the capital city of Baku arrested and tortured dozens of men presumed to be gay or bisexual, as well as transgender women. They were beaten and given electric shocks to coerce bribes and information about other gay men. In 2019, a 14-year-old girl from Baku attempted suicide due to homophobic bullying at school.

Public opinion in Azerbaijan suggests a lack of acceptance for LGBTQ+ rights, and LGBTQ+ people tend to keep a low profile. There is a small LGBT movement in the country, with three organisations advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and protection. While homosexual acts between consenting male adults are officially decriminalised, reports about police abuses against gays have persisted. LGBTQ+ people who are financially independent and living in Baku are able to lead a safe life, as long as they "practice" their homosexuality in their private sphere.

The country is mostly Muslim, but religious marriage is not common

Azerbaijan is a transcontinental country at the boundary of Eastern Europe and West Asia, with a population that is 95-97% Muslim. Despite this, the country is considered the most secular in the Muslim world, with its constitution not declaring an official religion and all major political forces in the country being secular.

While religious marriages are quite popular in Azerbaijan, they are not legal on their own. For a marriage to be recognised under the law, a civil ceremony must be concluded before a religious one is performed. This is because the laws of the country are not governed by Islamic sharia law principles.

In Azerbaijan, weddings are some of the most important events in the country, and families play an active role in the ceremonies. Marriage ceremonies and celebrations can last up to several months and can be very expensive.

The religious administration of Azerbaijani Muslims is the Caucasian Muslim Board, which for many years controlled all the mosques in the country. However, theologian Elshad Miri claims that religion does not have a great role in the politics and social life of Azerbaijan. This is due to the long years of Soviet rule, which imposed atheistic thinking on the country.

Miri also notes that religion has a much greater influence in the south of the country, which is associated with the close proximity of this region to Iran. Nardaran, a suburb of Baku, is known for being the only place in Azerbaijan where its inhabitants are devoutly religious and fundamentalist.

The country is conservative, and public displays of affection are generally frowned upon

Azerbaijan is a transcontinental country at the boundary of Eastern Europe and West Asia. While it is officially a secular country, 97% of its population is Muslim. The country is conservative, and public displays of affection are generally frowned upon.

Azerbaijan's society is largely secular, and religion is considered a private matter. However, the country's Muslim influence means that public displays of affection are not widely accepted. This is especially true outside of the capital city, Baku, where society is more conservative. While men greeting each other with a kiss on the cheek is considered normal, men greeting female friends in this way is seen as inappropriate, especially in the countryside.

In Baku, local and foreign women usually wear Western-style clothing, and it is becoming more acceptable for men to wear shorts during the summer months. However, outside of Baku, men wearing shorts can attract unwelcome attention. The same applies to public displays of affection, which are generally considered inappropriate, even in the centre of Baku.

Azerbaijan has a strong influence from its time under Soviet rule, which promoted atheistic thinking. While this has lessened the impact of religion on society, it is still important to respect local traditions, customs, and religious beliefs when visiting the country. For example, it is considered offensive to throw away bread as this is seen as offensive to those who are hungry. It is also important to be aware of cultural sensitivities when photographing mosques, churches, and other religious sites.

Overall, while Azerbaijan is a secular country, its conservative nature and religious influence mean that public displays of affection are generally frowned upon.

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