Police in the city of Agdash in Azerbaijan have refused to explain why eight officials, including police officers, raided a religious meeting at the home of 78-year-old Baptist Vera Zhuchaeva on 25.03.09. Two cameramen were also present.
In the home were 12 children - all with their parents' special permission - to listen to Bible stories. Three Christian women from Baku were also visiting. During the raid, the children were put in a room and a policeman and a teacher questioned them without the parents present, although some of the children cried. Everyone's name was taken down and the parents were then able to collect the children. The police seized 508 books and 40 movies and a player. The movies were Hollywood movies with biblical themes.
The police provided information about the Baptist activities to the local media. The raid was shown several times on TV. An Azerbaijani news agency's website reported on the raid with the names and places of residence of Zhuchaeva and the women from Baku. The General Secretary of the Azerbaijan Baptist Society said 31.03.09 from Baku: "This is dangerous". "Nationalists will now know their addresses."
