Azerbaijan's parliament has approved an amendment to the law on religions limiting sales of religious materials.
According to the amendment approved on February 22, all religious materials, such as books, video and audiotapes, and discs can be sold only if they are specially marked to show they are allowed for sale in the country.
The new regulation also says that all religious materials should be sold only in specially designated stores.
The parliament speaker, Oqtay Asadov, said the measure's goal was to prevent the illegal import of material propagating religious extremism.
Azerbaijan is a secular country with a mostly Shi'ite Muslim population of more than 9 million.
According to the amendment approved on February 22, all religious materials, such as books, video and audiotapes, and discs can be sold only if they are specially marked to show they are allowed for sale in the country.
The new regulation also says that all religious materials should be sold only in specially designated stores.
The parliament speaker, Oqtay Asadov, said the measure's goal was to prevent the illegal import of material propagating religious extremism.
Azerbaijan is a secular country with a mostly Shi'ite Muslim population of more than 9 million.
