TORTURE AND REPRESSIONS IN APRIL 2021

16 April

Firudin Zeynalov, a figurant in the “Ganja case” appeals to the public

The person involved in the “Ganja case” Firudin Zeynalov has been on a hunger strike since 13 April.

In his telephone address to the local and international community from the pre-trial detention center, Zeynalov states that he has nothing to do with the Ganja events. He was arrested in 2017 in Ganja after the Ashura Day ceremony at the Imamzade sanctuary on trumped-up charges of disobeying the police and hooliganism. Moreover, initially he was accused of an administrative offense and a fine was imposed.

At the time of the attempt on the life of Yunis Safarov on the former head of Ganja Elmar Valiyev (July 2018), Zeynalov was already in prison. He believes that he was involved in this case because of his appeal to the people on June 14, 2018, in which he wished “the soonest victory of the people over the dictatorial regime.” Exactly a month later, he was presented with new charges of participation in the riots in Ganja. Zeynalov demands release on the grounds of innocence. Earlier, the lawyer Fariz Namazly announced the start of his clients on a hunger strike.

 

27 April

Mother of the person involved in the “Ganja case” appealed to the President of the country

Kifayat Abbasova

The person involved in the “Ganja case” Firudin Zeynalov has been on a hunger strike since 13 April in protest against the unjustified criminal prosecution. His mother, Kifayat Abbasova, appealed to President Ilham Aliyev and Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva, expressing concern for her son’s health and calling on the country’s leaders to facilitate a fair decision by the court.

Abbasova points out that her son has nothing to do with the assassination attempt on the head of the Ganja Executive Power Elmar Valiyev in July 2018, since at that time he was in prison on another criminal case.

Zeynalov himself said earlier that he was involved in the “Ganja case” because on 14 June 2018, he addressed the people from prison, wishing “a speedy victory over the dictatorial regime.”

TORTURE AND REPRESSIONS IN MAY 2021

20 May

Satirical poet attacked because of the religious poem

Ibrahim Khudai

On 20 May, several persons attacked the poet-satirist Ibrahim Khudai, who lives in the Salyan region. The reason for this was a satirical poem on a religious theme, which he posted on his Facebook page.

In an interview with the Voice of America radio, Ibrahim Khudai said that the attackers demanded to remove the publication and apologize.

“Among the attackers, Turgut Jabrailov beat me. After my complaint to the police, he was detained, but I am afraid. They can come again,” he said.

Elshad Hajiyev, head of the Interior Ministry’s PR and Media Relations Department, said that the police are taking measures to ensure the safety of Ibrahim Khudai.

“Earlier the convicted Turgut Jabrayilov, on the basis of a complaint about beatings, was invited to the police department of the Salyan region, and a corresponding investigation is underway there. Jabrailov’s actions will be assessed depending on the investigation and expertise,” he said.

 

 

22 May

Man who beat up satirical Poet sentenced to 30 days in prison

Ibrahim Khudai

On 22 May, the Salyan District Court sentenced Turgut Jabrailov to 30 days of administrative arrest on the basis of a complaint by the poet Ibrahim Khudai, who was physically abused for a satirical poem on a religious theme.

The satirical poet wrote about this on his Facebook page.

“He was sentenced to 30 days in prison. His relatives were also pleased with me (he did not insist on strict punishment), and I said that I was ready to help as soon as I could. As for the police officers, it’s just a round of applause. The women in the neighborhood were also there to support me, ” Khudai said.

On May 20, several people attacked the satirical poet Ibrahim Khudai, who lives in the Salyan district (129 kilometers south of Baku). This was due to the fact that he read a satirical poem with religious content on his Facebook page.

Ibrahim Khudayi, in an interview with the Voice of America, said that the attackers demanded to remove a poem on a religious theme from his Facebook profile and apologize.

“One of them, Turgut Jabrayilov, hit me. I filed a complaint with the police today. Now the police have detained Turgut Jabrayilov. But I’m afraid. They may come again in the evening. Last night they came and beat me on the head and legs. I ran, escaping from their hands, ” he said.

In turn, the head of the Department for Media and Public Relations of the Press Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Elshad Hajiyev, told Voice of America that the police are taking appropriate measures in connection with the safety of Ibrahim Khudai.

“Turgut Jabrayilov, who was previously convicted on a complaint about the beating of Ibrahim Khudai, was taken to the police department of the Salyan district. Depending on the results of the pre – investigation check and the appointed expert examination, Jabrayilov’s actions will be given a legal assessment,” he said.

In Azerbaijan, in November 2011, publicist Rafiq Taghi was stabbed after writing a critical article on a religious topic and died in hospital. In the criminal case initiated in connection with the death of Rafik Taqi, no one has yet been brought to the investigation as a defendant.

TORTURE AND REPRESSIONS IN JULY 2021

9 July

A Muslim Unity Movement activist being tortured

Razi Humbatov

The human rights protection organization “Line of Protection” reported that Razi Humbatov, a member of the Muslim Unity Movement detained the day before, has been held in the main department for crime prevention of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and is subjected to tortured. The organization demands from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to provide an official message about the detention of Humbatov.

Also, the organization calls on the Office of Ombudsman, the Azerbaijani representation of the International Committee of the Red Cross to take control over the Humbatov’s fate.

Lawyer Javad Javadov told Turan that neither he nor members of Humbatov’s family are informed by the police about the place of activist’s detention.

“Now I am going to the main department for crime prevention of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to meet with Humbatov. If there is no opportunity to clarify his fate, then I will file a complaint in line with judicial supervision, ” the lawyer said.

 

 

24 July

Razi Humbatov said about tortures by police

Razi Humbatov

Razi Humbatov, an activist of the Muslim Unity Movement, currently in custody, said that he was tortured during his six-day detention in the Main Department for Combating Organized Crime under the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Head of the NGO “Line of Protection” Rufat Safarov told about it with reference to Humbatov’s relatives.

According to the human rights activist, Humbatov confessed to drug charges under physical and psychological pressures.

Besides, Safarov added that during his 16 days in prison, Humbatov was allowed to call his relatives twice for 1-2 minutes just after his transfer to a pre-trial detention center. And they never allowed him to see his relatives.

Safarov regarded this as a violation of the prisoner’s rights.

According to him, in keeping with the internal rules of place order for forced detention, a suspect has the right to call his relatives immediately after entering the prison.

Besides, after his transfer to a pre-trial detention center, this person should be entitled to call relatives, and then has the right to telephone conversations twice a week for 15 minutes and meet 4 times with his family members or other persons of legitimate interest to him / her a month.

It should be remembered that Humbatov was detained on July 7 in the village of Jeyranbatan.

Just three days later, a lawyer managed to find out that on 8 July, the Baku City Narimanov District Court chose a preventive measure against him in the form of arrest for a period of 4 months due to Article 234.4.3 (Large-scale drug trafficking) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan. Under this Article, he faces a sentence of 12 years of imprisonment.

The Muslim Unity Movement links Humbatov’s arrest with his criticism of the authorities in social networks, as well as his active struggle against drugs among young people.

TORTURE AND REPRESSIONS IN AUGUST 2021

6 August

The “Tovuz case” arrested believers are tortured in the prison

The relatives of the “Tovuz case” detainees are in front of the courtroom

According to Rufat Safarov, the Head of the NGO “Protection Line”, the accused believers continue a “dry” hunger strike in protest against the conviction in the so-called “Tovuz case”. R.Safarov mentioned that he had been contacted by Esmira Mammadova, mother of Babek Mammadli, one of the convicts who had been on hunger strike.

“Esmira noted that 11 prisoners who had been on a “dry” hunger strike were handcuffed and sent to a isolation, separate cells. She further revealed with great concern that the accused were not even allowed to go to the toilet and they were currently handcuffed to their bunks, forced to perform their natural needs in that state and therefore they were entirely in urine and excrement”.

The human rights activist appealed to the Ombudsman, Sabina Aliyeva, and the Azerbaijani office of the Red Cross International Society to take the matter under their control, at least out of a sense of humanity.

The “Tovuz case” prisoners were accused of funding ISIS and were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment, with which the believers could not agree and started a “dry” hunger strike in protest.

TORTURE AND REPRESSIONS IN NOVEMBER 2021

17 November

The defendant in the “Nardaran case” placed in a punishment cell

A punishment cell

Convicted in the “Nardaran case” Jabbar Jabbarov was placed in the punishment cell in jail N 1 for six days, said his relatives. According to them, the formal reason for the punishment was a fight between prisoners. However, Jabbar Jabbarov did not participate in this. It was not possible to obtain comments from the Penitentiary Service.

Jabbar Jabbarov was detained during a special operation by security officials in the village of Nardaran in 2015 against the leader of the Muslim Unity Movement Tale Bagirzade.

Jabbarov was subsequently sentenced to 19 years in prison on charges of terrorism, arms trafficking, premeditated murder, organizing mass riots, and other crimes.