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AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS BEEN TURNING A BLIND EYE TO REPRESSION IN AZERBAIJAN
ARMENPRESS
FEBRUARY 21, 2012
YEREVAN
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS: Ahead of the 2012 Eurovision singing
competition in Baku, Amnesty International is urging host Azerbaijan
to address the unsavoury truth of its record on human rights and
release 16 prisoners of conscience held since April 2011 in the wake
of anti-government protests, Armenpress reports citing the document
of the organization.
"Azerbaijan will no doubt offer an opulent stage to voices from
across Europe, but outside the concert hall, few critical voices are
tolerated. Opposition protests have effectively been criminalised.
Peaceful protesters have been detained, while journalists and NGOs
have faced threats and harassment," said John Dalhuisen, Europe and
Central Asia Deputy Programme Director.
Amnesty International's briefing, Azerbaijan: No more running scared:
2012 EUROVISION host country Azerbaijan must allow all voices to
be heard , summarizes the organization's human rights concerns in
the country.
"Corruption and forced evictions, torture and ill-treatment, unfair
trials and harassment - these all go unpunished, while restrictions
on freedom of expression tie the hands of civil society activists,"
John Dalhuisen said.
"For much too long the international community has been turning a blind
eye to repression in Azerbaijan. The 2012 EUROVISION song contest
should lift the glitzy curtains and expose human rights abuses to
millions of people," the document of the Amnesty International runs.
ARMENPRESS
FEBRUARY 21, 2012
YEREVAN
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS: Ahead of the 2012 Eurovision singing
competition in Baku, Amnesty International is urging host Azerbaijan
to address the unsavoury truth of its record on human rights and
release 16 prisoners of conscience held since April 2011 in the wake
of anti-government protests, Armenpress reports citing the document
of the organization.
"Azerbaijan will no doubt offer an opulent stage to voices from
across Europe, but outside the concert hall, few critical voices are
tolerated. Opposition protests have effectively been criminalised.
Peaceful protesters have been detained, while journalists and NGOs
have faced threats and harassment," said John Dalhuisen, Europe and
Central Asia Deputy Programme Director.
Amnesty International's briefing, Azerbaijan: No more running scared:
2012 EUROVISION host country Azerbaijan must allow all voices to
be heard , summarizes the organization's human rights concerns in
the country.
"Corruption and forced evictions, torture and ill-treatment, unfair
trials and harassment - these all go unpunished, while restrictions
on freedom of expression tie the hands of civil society activists,"
John Dalhuisen said.
"For much too long the international community has been turning a blind
eye to repression in Azerbaijan. The 2012 EUROVISION song contest
should lift the glitzy curtains and expose human rights abuses to
millions of people," the document of the Amnesty International runs.