Religion – Weltanschauung – Recht [ RWR ]

The applicant, Vugar Karim oglu Rafiyev, is an Azerbaijani national who was born in 1980 and lives in Sumgayit (Azerbaijan). He is a follower of the Nurism teachings of Islam. The case concerns the arrest and subsequent conviction of the applicant for holding an unauthorised religious meeting in a private house in March 2017.

He was convicted of an administrative offence and fined for violating the rules on organising and holding religious meetings set out in law.

Relying on Article 5 (right to liberty and security), Article 6 (right to a fair trial), Article 9 (freedom of thought, conscience and religion), of the European Convention the applicant complains, in particular, that his arrest and detention were unlawful, that his trial was unfair as the national courts did not examine his arguments, and that the interference with his freedom of worship was unlawful.

• Violation of Article 5 § 1
• Violation of Article 6 § 1
• Violation of Article 9

Just satisfaction

• Non-pecuniary damage: € 3,000,–
• Costs and expenses: € 1,000,–

Press release ECHR 169 (2025) 08.07.2025