Jehovah's Witnesses members detained in western Azerbaijan

Ganja, Azerbaijan - Police detained members of Jehovah's Witnesses in western Ganja on Jan. 18.

Ganja is located 365 kilometers outside Baku.

The police uncovered a location where members of the religious group gathered in Sevinj, head of the Western Department of the State Committee for Religious Associations Firdovsi Karimov told Trend News.

He said the association worked with Kapaz District Police officers to detain 10 activists. Eighty children, 5-6 men and women were also detained.

An investigation is underway.

Jehovah's Witnesses is not registered with the Western Department of the State Committee for Religious Associations and was therefore functioning illegally.

There are 20 religious communities in Ganja. Eleven are Islamic and 9 non-Islamic.

The non-Islamic communities include: Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Church, Christian Baptists Church, Seventh-Day Adventists Church, Star Christian Bible Protestant Church, Jesus Christ Church, Christian Baptist Bible Church Union and New Apostles Church.