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AZERBAIJAN RETALIATES AGAINST EUROVISION ACTIVISTS
asbarez
Wednesday, June 13th, 2012
Mehman Huseynov
BAKU-Azeri police have detained activist and journalist Mehman Huseynov
for allegedly highlighting widespread abuses by the government before
and during last month's Eurovision song contests in Baku, reported
Amnesty International.
The group said that Huseynov's arrest signals the start of the widely
predicted government crackdown on those they consider responsible
for negative publicity during Eurovision.
A 23-year-old video blogger, photojournalist and pro-democracy
activist detained since last night in the capital Baku must be released
immediately and without conditions, Amnesty International said.
The organization believes that activist Mehman Huseynov has been
targeted for highlighting abuses in the country during last month's
Eurovision Song Contest.
His arrest comes amid a worrying rise in police harassment of young
activists who participated in protests around Eurovision.
"Mehman's arrest signals the start of the widely predicted government
crackdown on those they consider responsible for negative publicity
during Eurovision," said Max Tucker, Amnesty International's Azerbaijan
campaigner.
"The continued reluctance of European leaders to condemn shocking
rights violations in this oil-rich country gives the authorities
leeway to exact their revenge."
Huseynov worked as the Media Coordinator for the "Sing for Democracy"
campaign group which encouraged Sweden's Eurovision entry Loreen -
who went on to win the contest - to speak out about Azerbaijan's
human rights problems.
He has been accused of 'hooliganism' and faces five years in prison
if convicted. The charge relates to an incident during a protest he
was covering on 21 May.
Eyewitnesses told Amnesty International that police officers
deliberately smashed the cameras of Huseynov and a colleague, after
which he swore at the officers. Under Azerbaijani law, hooliganism
is a criminal offence only when it involves violence.
Five of the officers have testified that Huseynov not only swore,
but acted "violently" - though they gave no further details. Two
witnesses testify that he did nothing violent, and video footage of
the incident appears to support their accounts.
Huseynov's photographs of peaceful protests being violently dispersed
in Baku have been disseminated widely by international media and on
social networks.
In March 2011 he was arrested and interrogated about his Facebook
activity while working as a cameraman for Amnesty International.
He is the youngest brother of Emin Huseynov, Director of Azerbaijani
NGO Institute for Reporters Freedom and Safety, who led the "Sing
for Democracy" campaign.
"We knew the authorities would take action against us, we just did
not know how and when," Emin Huseynov told Amnesty International.
"When will the international community tell our government enough
is enough? I can only hope it will be in time to save my brother
from prison."
Mehman Huseynov is now the seventh journalist in custody in Azerbaijan,
and if convicted would be the 15th prisoner of conscience in the
country today.
According to the opposition Popular Front Party, three other youth
activists who took part in protests during Eurovision have been
harassed by police in the past week.
One of the activists, Khanim Mustafayeva, told Amnesty International
that her father was summoned to police, and interrogated him about
her having joined "radical forces".
Police twice summoned the parents of activist Ramin Musayev to tell
them their son had "joined radical religious forces" and had "disturbed
the public order". Musayev was then interrogated and threatened with
expulsion from school.
The father of Bayim Hasanli, who witnessed the 21 May incident
involving Mehman Huseynov, was also summoned to a local police station
to be interrogated about his daughter's activities.
asbarez
Wednesday, June 13th, 2012
Mehman Huseynov
BAKU-Azeri police have detained activist and journalist Mehman Huseynov
for allegedly highlighting widespread abuses by the government before
and during last month's Eurovision song contests in Baku, reported
Amnesty International.
The group said that Huseynov's arrest signals the start of the widely
predicted government crackdown on those they consider responsible
for negative publicity during Eurovision.
A 23-year-old video blogger, photojournalist and pro-democracy
activist detained since last night in the capital Baku must be released
immediately and without conditions, Amnesty International said.
The organization believes that activist Mehman Huseynov has been
targeted for highlighting abuses in the country during last month's
Eurovision Song Contest.
His arrest comes amid a worrying rise in police harassment of young
activists who participated in protests around Eurovision.
"Mehman's arrest signals the start of the widely predicted government
crackdown on those they consider responsible for negative publicity
during Eurovision," said Max Tucker, Amnesty International's Azerbaijan
campaigner.
"The continued reluctance of European leaders to condemn shocking
rights violations in this oil-rich country gives the authorities
leeway to exact their revenge."
Huseynov worked as the Media Coordinator for the "Sing for Democracy"
campaign group which encouraged Sweden's Eurovision entry Loreen -
who went on to win the contest - to speak out about Azerbaijan's
human rights problems.
He has been accused of 'hooliganism' and faces five years in prison
if convicted. The charge relates to an incident during a protest he
was covering on 21 May.
Eyewitnesses told Amnesty International that police officers
deliberately smashed the cameras of Huseynov and a colleague, after
which he swore at the officers. Under Azerbaijani law, hooliganism
is a criminal offence only when it involves violence.
Five of the officers have testified that Huseynov not only swore,
but acted "violently" - though they gave no further details. Two
witnesses testify that he did nothing violent, and video footage of
the incident appears to support their accounts.
Huseynov's photographs of peaceful protests being violently dispersed
in Baku have been disseminated widely by international media and on
social networks.
In March 2011 he was arrested and interrogated about his Facebook
activity while working as a cameraman for Amnesty International.
He is the youngest brother of Emin Huseynov, Director of Azerbaijani
NGO Institute for Reporters Freedom and Safety, who led the "Sing
for Democracy" campaign.
"We knew the authorities would take action against us, we just did
not know how and when," Emin Huseynov told Amnesty International.
"When will the international community tell our government enough
is enough? I can only hope it will be in time to save my brother
from prison."
Mehman Huseynov is now the seventh journalist in custody in Azerbaijan,
and if convicted would be the 15th prisoner of conscience in the
country today.
According to the opposition Popular Front Party, three other youth
activists who took part in protests during Eurovision have been
harassed by police in the past week.
One of the activists, Khanim Mustafayeva, told Amnesty International
that her father was summoned to police, and interrogated him about
her having joined "radical forces".
Police twice summoned the parents of activist Ramin Musayev to tell
them their son had "joined radical religious forces" and had "disturbed
the public order". Musayev was then interrogated and threatened with
expulsion from school.
The father of Bayim Hasanli, who witnessed the 21 May incident
involving Mehman Huseynov, was also summoned to a local police station
to be interrogated about his daughter's activities.