A/HRC/4/21/Add.2 page 9 and polarization. The authorities seem particularly concerned at being challenged by regional and international extremist religious groups. These threats therefore allegedly justify their various initiatives, such as the registration of religious groups and the monitoring of importation of material by them. However, at the same time, these initiatives often seem to cross the boundary from benign streamlining to interference in the freedom of religion or belief of individuals and communities. 36. During the visit, interlocutors of the Special Rapporteur underlined or complained about the excessive level of control exercised by the authorities over the activities of religious communities. The high level of control varies according to the region. Some minority religious groups indeed pointed out that the level of religious freedom they enjoyed in Baku was not available to them in other parts of the country. 37. In Nakichevan, for instance, the authorities themselves claimed that a high level of control was beneficial for religions and necessary to assist religious communities in their activities. At the same time, the Special Rapporteur notes and deplores that certain interlocutors from religious communities who she wanted to meet in Nakichevan refused to see her because of fear of persecution. In the opinion of the Special Rapporteur, this constitutes a worrying indication that the Government is not able to adequately guarantee freedom of religion. 38. In Gandja, the Special Rapporteur noted that the atmosphere was tense and religious minorities were clearly under pressure from some Muslim religious leaders and the representative of SCWRA. 39. Although she maintains her opinion about the general degree of religious tolerance and harmony in the country, the Special Rapporteur noted that a certain degree of religious intolerance among certain portions of the population but also among the authorities and the media, in particular towards newer religious communities, has also played a role in cases of religious persecution that have been reported to the Special Rapporteur. Religious intolerance is often the result of ignorance and misconceptions about certain religious groups. A widely felt sentiment among the population, in this respect, is that radicalization of any religion comes from abroad. This explains the cautious approach taken by Azerbaijan authorities regarding any form of religious influence from abroad, whether in the form of literature or person. 40. Finally, there is an inadequate level of knowledge regarding the principles of human rights in general, including the different aspects of the right to freedom of religion or belief. In this regard, the confusion between the system of registration of religious associations and the right to manifest one’s religion is often the source of human rights violations. A number of interlocutors considered that the interruption of religious celebrations in private houses by the authorities was justified by the absence of registration of the groups or individuals concerned and therefore did not constitute human rights violations. B. Acts of religious intolerance and other forms of persecution of religious minorities 41. Small religious communities, in particular those that are deemed to have connections with foreign countries, are usually not well accepted by certain portions of the population. The