Shia mosque demolition triggers mass protests

The protests took place after Baku's Second Economic Court, in what is widely believed to be a politicized verdict, ordered the Fatemeh Zahra Mosque in Baku to be razed.

To break up the demonstrations, police and security forces attacked the protesters with clubs and batons, leaving some in critical state.

At least 150 of the people protesting against the order have been reportedly arrested and taken in police custody so far.

The demonstrators condemned the verdict, chanting slogans such as "Death to the mosque demolishers."

They also passed a resolution, expressing their outrage and concern over the “dangerously increasing and organized policy of destroying mosques.”

Despite the many evidence proving that the construction of the mosque has been legal, Baku Municipality has called for its demolition on several occasions.

Fatemeh Zahra, which was built with the consent of the former head of the Baku Executive Authorities Rafael Allahverdiyev, would be the third Shia mosque to be torn down this year.

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