AZE.US
A sensitive issue is again drawing attention in Baku: who is charging money for cemetery plots, and on what grounds.
Residents say burial space in some cemeteries in the capital is being offered for money, even though such plots are supposed to be provided free of charge. In some cases, the sums involved are relatively small. In others, families say they are asked to pay thousands of manats.
The issue has sparked frustration because relatives dealing with the loss of a loved one are often forced to think not only about the funeral itself, but also about where the person can be buried and at what cost.
Faig Ahmadov, the akhund of the Garadagh mosque, said selling cemetery plots is illegal. According to him, there is no official price for a burial place itself. At the same time, he acknowledged that in practice, families who want a specific location are often expected to pay.
He said payments may be taken for related services, such as grave digging and work carried out at the cemetery. Those charges are typically around 250 to 300 manats. But reports of payments reaching 3,000, 5,000 or even 10,000 manats for burial space point to a much bigger problem.
The State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations said cemetery management and the organization of services in this area fall under the authority of municipalities, in line with rules approved by the Cabinet of Ministers in 2018.
The committee stressed that cemetery plots for Azerbaijani citizens, as well as for foreigners and stateless persons living or staying in the country, including refugees, must be allocated free of charge by cemetery administrations. The same rule applies to people with no relatives.
Officials also said discussions are underway among relevant state bodies on how to address the existing problems and improve cemetery management procedures.