Baptists jailed for holding harvest celebration

KUSAR, Azerbaijan — Four Baptists in Azerbaijan were given five-day jail terms Oct. 31 after a police raid the same day on a harvest festival celebration in a private home. Around 80 Baptists were present when police raided.

Police first turned off the gas and electricity to prevent church members from preparing a festive meal; they then recorded the names of all those present and photographed and filmed them. After a late-night closed-court hearing, homeowner Ilgar Mamedov and three others — Zalib Ibrahimov, Rauf Gurbanov and Akif Babaev — were given five-day prison terms. Police insisted that there was nothing unusual about a late Sunday evening court hearing, claiming that “it happens.”