Azerbaijan detains bloggers under controversial public morality law

Two Azerbaijani bloggers have been detained for social media posts on religion and atheism, in the first high-profile application of a new public morality law.

Uzeyir Abbas, 47, and Meqsed Bagirov, 31, who streams under the name "Chevik", were arrested following online debates on Islam and religious belief.

The detentions have ignited debate in the South Caucasus nation over the boundaries between religious tolerance and freedom of expression.

Both men were charged under Article 510.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, a provision introduced in December 2025 that penalises online conduct deemed contrary to national and moral values.

The law carries penalties ranging from a fine of 500 to 1,000 manats ($294 to $588) or up to one month of administrative detention.

According to court records, Abbas was arrested by the Sabail District Court in Baku after posting an artificial intelligence-edited photo on Facebook that merged his image with a woman in a chador, accompanied by comments about religious believers.

Bagirov appeared before a judge in Qabala after a TikTok livestream in which he allegedly used profane language during a debate on atheism. Prosecutors alleged he insulted a family member of a soldier killed in the Karabakh conflict.

Bagirov pleaded guilty, telling the court he reacted to insults directed at him during the broadcast.

"I did not know he was the brother of a martyr," Bagirov told the court. "When I found out the next day, I apologised on live stream. I regret it."

The arrests follow an announcement by the Prosecutor General's Office in February that six people had been processed under the new law, with four placed in administrative detention.

Legal experts have voiced concern over the scope of the legislation. Human rights lawyer Samad Rahimli said the law leaves open significant room for abuse.

"The concept of 'violation of national and moral values' is extremely broad," Rahimli said. "It remains unclear what specifically constitutes a violation."

However, officials maintain the law is necessary to protect citizens' rights and religious sensitivities.

Jeyhun Mammadov, a member of the parliamentary committee on public associations and religious organisations, defended the enforcement in comments to Radio Free Europe's Azerbaijani service.

"Numerous complaints were made that these individuals were violating the freedom of belief of others," Mammadov said. "Critique and diverse opinions are allowed, but continuous propaganda that mocks and insults people's faith is unacceptable."

Lawyer Yalchin Imanov noted that European legal standards require a delicate balance between freedom of expression and the protection of public order or religious rights.

Imanov referenced the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) landmark ruling in Taghiyev and Huseynov v. Azerbaijan, which concerned the 2006 conviction of writer Rafig Taghi for an article comparing Islamic and European values.

The ECHR eventually found that Azerbaijani courts had failed to strike a proper balance between free expression and respect for religious beliefs.

International rights groups frequently accuse Azerbaijani authorities of restricting free speech and targeting online commentators. Government officials deny the allegations, asserting that no individual is prosecuted for legitimate expression or professional activity.