E/CN.4/2001/0063 page 6 15. Azerbaijan replied as follows: “ … The Prosecutor’s Office has announced that, since the beginning of 1999, M. Makarenko, A. Mamedova, A. Makhmoudova, S. Gadjigaribova, G. Nasraddinova and O. Pritouliak, six employees of an Azerbaijani gas refinery, began to engage in propaganda activities to promote the religious sect Jehovah’s Witnesses: they distributed religious tracts and tried to convert others to their beliefs. Providing free materials to their colleagues, they organized study groups during working hours, to which they invited other employees. By spreading the ideas, objectives and purposes of their religious sect, they actually created a religious circle. Over time, the religious activities of the above-mentioned company employees became more open. Their participation in religious meetings held behind closed doors was no longer a secret from anyone. On 1 September 1999, the employees of the plant met in a general assembly to consider the activities of the employees who were members of the sect, trying to convince them to give up their illegal and inappropriate activities. Noting that these employees were becoming increasingly separated from the other workers, that they were boycotting group activities organized by the staff, that they were showing an increasing indifference towards their work and were trying not to form friendships with their colleagues, whom they despised, the workers who spoke up during the meeting said that this demonstrated the harmful effect of the religious sect. With regard to the Jehovah’s Witnesses as a sect, those who spoke also pointed out that they preached non-recognition of the State, its laws and its symbols, and rejected military service and other civic duties. Some also noted that this sect authorized its members to take part in all sorts of illegal activities and actions promoting destabilization of the State. The general assembly therefore proposed to the six employees that they should renounce religious sectarianism and promise not to continue their activities. Instead of complying, the employees in question refused to turn away from their chosen path, and even expressed their intention to redouble their efforts. Following the discussion, the general assembly of plant workers thus took the decision to demand that management should dismiss the six employees who were members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses sect. In accordance with articles 70 (y) and 72 (v) of the Labour Code of Azerbaijan, which establishes the penalties for administrative infractions committed by individuals during working hours and on work premises, the director of the plant decided to dismiss the six employees. After the Garadag district procurator’s office in Baku had verified the evidence concerning the activities of the workers who were members of the sect, it was established that the persons in question had actually committed the infractions set out in article 202, paragraph 1, of the Administrative Code of Azerbaijan, and an administrative action was therefore brought against them.