Azerbaijan to create ‘exemplary cemeteries’

The Azerbaijani Milli Majlis (Parliament) Committee on Public Associations and Religious Organizations has drafted a bill on the improvement of funeral services, which provides for the introduction of a uniform network of ‘exemplary cemeteries’, with unified prices that will be set by the government.

“There will be ‘exemplary’ cemeteries throughout the republic. Cemeteries in most of the cities will be funded by the government. As for rural areas, they will be funded by local municipalities. The document has been finalized and will be submitted for consideration to Parliament in the near future. The president may also issue a relevant decree,” Siyavuş Novruzov, the Committee Chairman, told Modern.az.

According to the parliamentary committee chairman, the bill is particularly focused on exemplary cemetery management, protection and servicing issues. Cemetery plots and gravestone prices should be uniform everywhere and should be affordable to middle-class citizens.

Novruzov added that highly-skilled experts would be invited to perform religious rituals. “As you may know, Mullahs who serve at the cemeteries nowadays don’t even know the Arabic language,” Novruzov added.

For more information regarding the situation surrounding cemeteries and funeral services, visit the JAMnews article ‘Dying in Azerbaijan: prices, rules and rites’.