a return to more traditionalist values. As authorities have repressed Salafis in the north they have become more radical. Citizens of Azerbaijan have joined terrorist organizations in Syria. In Nardaran, a deadly incident broke out between Azerbaijan security forces and religious Shia residents in which two policemen and four suspected Shia Muslim militants were killed. As a result of this incident, the Azerbaijani parliament passed laws prohibiting people with religious education received abroad to implement Islamic rites and ceremonies in Azerbaijan, as well as to preach in mosques and occupy leading positions in the country; as well as prohibiting the display of religious paraphernalia, flags and slogans, except in places of worship, religious centers and offices. Ashura commemorations in public have also been banned. The Azerbaijani government also passed a law to remove the citizenship of Azerbaijani citizens who fight abroad. See also Religion in Azerbaijan State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations of Azerbaijan Republic Islam by country 2007 Baku terrorist plot Further reading Pdf. Pdf. Online References Notes External links ISLAMIC AND ETHNIC IDENTITIES IN AZERBAIJAN: EMERGING TRENDS AND TENSIONS, A Discussion Paper, by Hema Kotecha, OSCE, 2006 Azerbaijan: Islam in a post-soviet republic. By Anar Valiyev, CAEI Azerbaijan: Islamic threat to religious harmony, Open Democracy News Azerbaijan Azerbaijan