In bible I am working on studying persecution is Azerbaijan with Marrissa and McKenna.We have found that christian persecution often comes not through the government, but through families, friends, co-workers, and neighbors. People loose their jobs, are shunned by their families, and are tormented by their neighbors. Since over 90% of the population in Azerbaijan are muslim christians are not always allowed to practice the freedom of religion their constitution says they should have.

Even though most of the persecution for the individual person comes doesn’t come through the government. Some does. The Azerbaijan government has high surveilance levels, and everything that comes in and out of the country has to be registered by the government. This makes it very difficult for the church to expand, evangelize, and import bibles in to the country.