SW News: The Armenian Bar Association has chronicled the different ways in which Azerbaijan is curtailing the right of Armenian Christians to worship freely in the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. The report, the third of its kind, was submitted to the UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Religion.

In the report, the Association mentions how Azeri authorities have blocked access to religious sites of Armenians in the region, in those parts of the region occupied by Azerbaijan after the war last year. The report also states that Armenian priests are intimidated and subjected to inhumane conditions. It also accuses Azerbaijan of preventing Armenians residing abroad to conduct pilgrimages to the sacred sites in the disputed region, which is also known as the Republic of Artsakh.

Azerbaijan, which is an ally of Turkey, has also been accused of destroying ancient monasteries, churches and other sacred sites in Nagorno-Karabakh, which is dominated by ethnic Armenians. The report also blames the Azeri government for changing the nature of Armenian religious sites without the consent of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

“We request that the Special Rapporteurs investigate, report, and call broader attention to these issues and similar human rights violations. To the extent possible, we urge the Special Rapporteurs to try to mediate and promote peace-building measures that (i) protect and respect access to religious sites for the performance of religious rites; and (ii) protect and respect the coexistence of multiple religious faiths and cultures,” the Armenian Bar Association said in its report.

The report has been submitted on behalf of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin (the seat of the Armenian Church), the Society for Armenian Studies, National Association for Armenian Studies and Research, and the Association Internationale des Études Arménienne (International Association for Armenian Studies).