The head of the Azerbaijani state committee on religious organizations, Rafiq Aliyev, reported on 21 December on the state of religious freedom in the country. According to the official, the government has officially registered some 335 different religious groups, consisting of 307 various Islamic and 28 undefined groups. Another 10 \"religious communities\" have submitted documents as part of the application process for official registration. Aliyev also rejected \"criticism from international organizations and from the governments of some countries\" for discrimination against some religious sects. He further noted that a new law on alternative military service for pacifist religious groups will be drafted sometime next year and promised that the country\'s law on religion will be presented for debate and possible amendment by the parliament. (Turan)