Tweet
AZERBAIJANI ACTIVISTS LAUNCH EUROVISION CAMPAIGN FOR DEMOCRACY
Hurriyet
Aug 8 2011
Turkey
Anar Mammadli, human rights activist is among the Azerbaijani
intellectuals who have launched a campaign on Facebook to secure
human rights reforms in the country.
Azerbaijani intellectuals and activists have launched a campaign on
Facebook to secure human rights reforms and the release of political
prisoners in the Caucasian country by the time of the 2012 Eurovision
song contest, which will be held in Baku. The signature-collection
campaign has received the backing of a number of other pro-democracy
organizations, according to Anar Mammadli, a human rights activist.
"There are currently more than 60 political prisoners in our country.
We wish for our country to [show] respect toward human rights, [the
rule of] law and freedoms as in the example of Europe," Mammadli told
the Hurriyet Daily News by e-mail.
The Facebook petition entitled "Free song in a non-free country
/ Eurovision 2012 Song Contest in a non-free country?" will be
transferred to the site www.freesonfordemocracy.org in September.
They were happy about the success of Eldar and Nigar, the two artists
who won this year's Eurovision contest, Mammadli said, but added that
Azerbaijan needs to stand closer to Europe in terms of fundamental
freedoms and values for them to more heartily embrace the jubilance
that accompanied his country's Eurovision success.
"Our goal is not the cancellation of Eurovision," said Mammadli, a
member of the organizing council for the Eurovision 2012 Azerbaijan
Human Rights Campaign and the coordinator of the Alliance to Protect
Political Freedoms.
"We request the enactment of human rights reforms and the release
of political convicts until the starting date of the [Eurovision]
contest. We are going to move ahead with our campaign until the last
moment," Mammadli said, adding that they had already started sending
notifications about their demands to all relevant institutions in
the country for the pan-European song contest.
Mammadli said other pro-democracy organizations, namely the Alliance
for Defense of Political Freedoms, the Institute for Peace and
Democracy and the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety and
Human Rights, had all lent their support to the campaign once it
was announced.
"We are striving for our people by upholding our country and our
values above everything," he said.
Eldar and Nigar's success is significant not just for Azerbaijan but
for the whole of the Caucasus region, and for Armenia and Georgia in
particular, Mammadli said.
"The [hosting] of such a popular contest beyond Europe's borders will
carry the Caucasus into the agenda as part of the European region.
This, in fact, is an opportunity for Azeris, Georgians and Armenians
who would like to see themselves in the European family," Mammadli
said.
Hurriyet
Aug 8 2011
Turkey
Anar Mammadli, human rights activist is among the Azerbaijani
intellectuals who have launched a campaign on Facebook to secure
human rights reforms in the country.
Azerbaijani intellectuals and activists have launched a campaign on
Facebook to secure human rights reforms and the release of political
prisoners in the Caucasian country by the time of the 2012 Eurovision
song contest, which will be held in Baku. The signature-collection
campaign has received the backing of a number of other pro-democracy
organizations, according to Anar Mammadli, a human rights activist.
"There are currently more than 60 political prisoners in our country.
We wish for our country to [show] respect toward human rights, [the
rule of] law and freedoms as in the example of Europe," Mammadli told
the Hurriyet Daily News by e-mail.
The Facebook petition entitled "Free song in a non-free country
/ Eurovision 2012 Song Contest in a non-free country?" will be
transferred to the site www.freesonfordemocracy.org in September.
They were happy about the success of Eldar and Nigar, the two artists
who won this year's Eurovision contest, Mammadli said, but added that
Azerbaijan needs to stand closer to Europe in terms of fundamental
freedoms and values for them to more heartily embrace the jubilance
that accompanied his country's Eurovision success.
"Our goal is not the cancellation of Eurovision," said Mammadli, a
member of the organizing council for the Eurovision 2012 Azerbaijan
Human Rights Campaign and the coordinator of the Alliance to Protect
Political Freedoms.
"We request the enactment of human rights reforms and the release
of political convicts until the starting date of the [Eurovision]
contest. We are going to move ahead with our campaign until the last
moment," Mammadli said, adding that they had already started sending
notifications about their demands to all relevant institutions in
the country for the pan-European song contest.
Mammadli said other pro-democracy organizations, namely the Alliance
for Defense of Political Freedoms, the Institute for Peace and
Democracy and the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety and
Human Rights, had all lent their support to the campaign once it
was announced.
"We are striving for our people by upholding our country and our
values above everything," he said.
Eldar and Nigar's success is significant not just for Azerbaijan but
for the whole of the Caucasus region, and for Armenia and Georgia in
particular, Mammadli said.
"The [hosting] of such a popular contest beyond Europe's borders will
carry the Caucasus into the agenda as part of the European region.
This, in fact, is an opportunity for Azeris, Georgians and Armenians
who would like to see themselves in the European family," Mammadli
said.