Ilgar Ibrahimoglu, chairman of the Center for the Defense of Freedom of Religion and Conscience (DEVAMM) in Azerbaijan, said his house was searched by the Azerbaijani State Security Service (SSS). Local media reported that the SSS has been conducting operations in several places since yesterday and that some people have been detained. Later, Ilgar Ibrahimoglu said on his Facebook account that he was taken from his home, interrogated as a witness, and released after answering questions. He did not say in which state body and on what criminal case he was interrogated under, only that he would not be able to be contacted for "technical reasons" for several days.

So far, the SSS has neither confirmed nor denied the detention of theologians. Human rights activist Taleh Khasmammadov said that they were taken to the State Security Service for questioning on the evening of October 19. Taleh Khasmammadov shared that these people were members of the Committee to Protect the Rights of Haji Ilham Aliyev, whom the SSS accused of treason.

The news of the detention of theologians, who are said to belong to the Shiite sect of Islam, comes at a time of strained relations between Iran and Azerbaijan. Some see this as a "preventive measure" by law enforcement in the current situation.

Two weeks ago, the Azerbaijani Interior Ministry announced the closure of the Baku office of Ojag Necat, a representative of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with the Husseiniyya Mosque, citing the coronavirus epidemic.

The disagreement between Iran and Azerbaijan arose in September after Baku began to control a part of the Goris-Kapan road passing through the territory of Azerbaijan and checked the documents of drivers of Iranian citizens.

Tensions have intensified since Iran began military exercises on the border with Azerbaijan, citing a "Zionist threat" in the region.