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THE HUMAN MISERY BEHIND THE GLITZ OF EUROVISION
http://www.independent.co.uk/hei-fi/entertainment/the-human-misery-behind-the-glitz-of-eurovision-7577151.html?origin=internalSearch
Monday 19 March 2012
The deterioration of human rights in Azerbaijan is badly out of tune
with the sunny image the song contest wants to promote, write Jerome
Taylor and Richard Hall
It is seen by Britons as a celebration of kitsch - a harmless event
which millions watch despite our chance of victory being close to nil.
But for many citizens of this year's host country, Azerbaijan,
the Eurovision Song Contest has brought misery as the government
has forcibly evicted thousands from their homes in the run-up to
the competition.
When Azerbaijan won the right to host Eurovision, the government of
President Ilham Aliyev saw a chance to showcase the gas-rich country's
burgeoning economy. Activists were optimistic the high-profile
event would pressure the authoritarian regime to address its abysmal
human-rights record.
But rights groups say the situation is now worse. A report by Human
Rights Watch (HRW) last month revealed a "beautification" scheme for
the capital Baku has led to thousands of people being evicted from
their homes, often in contravention of court orders.
The story told by residents of 5 Agil Gurliyev Street is one example.
The nine-storey tower block overlooks the Baku Crystal Hall Stadium, a
25,000-seat arena being built to host the contest. Many in the building
were forced to leave with very little notice and without proper
compensation, says the HRW report. Those who stayed had electricity
and gas cut. The building is set to be torn down to make way for a
"resort zone", to be used by visitors attending the competition.
The Aliyev government says the demolition has nothing to do with
Eurovision. But the forced evictions are a small part of a larger
human-rights problem. After his father Heydar died in 2003, President
Aliyev introduced some increasingly authoritarian measures. Backed
by billions of dollars from a booming oil and gas sector, he has yet
to win a fair election and has cracked down on opposition voices.
Inspired by the Arab Spring, last March opposition groups led
a series of protests in Baku and in other major cities against
corruption, cronyism and the lack of democratic progress. Scores
were arrested and imprisoned, including opposition politicians,
journalists and bloggers. Human-rights groups estimate more than 60
people in Azerbaijani jails are political prisoners. Late last year
the Azerbaijani government had to assure the European Broadcasting
Union (EBU) - the organisers of Eurovision - that freedom of
speech would be guaranteed for all participants, delegates and
visiting press. Azeri bloggers and human-rights groups were quick
to remark the same privileges are not extended to them. "Azerbaijan
will no doubt offer an opulent stage to voices from across Europe,
but outside the concert hall, few critical voices are tolerated,"
said Amnesty International programme director John Dalhuisen.
While some call for a boycott of the competition, not all activists
believe it is necessary. Instead, many hope media scrutiny accompanying
such an international event will help spotlight their plight. "I
don't think a boycott will actually do much," explains Rasul Jafarov,
a prominent human-rights campaigner who is part of a coalition of
rights activists that has come together under the banner Sing for
Democracy. "Instead what we want to see is journalists, politicians and
those on the delegations look into what is happening in our country."
Others believe Eurovision should take a more critical line. Rachel
Denber, deputy director of the Europe and Central Asia Division of
Human Rights Watch, has called for the EBU to seek assurances from the
Azerbaijani authorities that they will halt all further expropriations
of properties until they can be carried out in a transparent manner.
But the EBU is unlikely to become embroiled in the debate surrounding
Azerbaijan's human-rights. It has repeatedly stated Eurovision is a
non-political event. A spokesman said last week Eurovision "can act
as an agent of change", adding that the EBU would be "disappointed"
if more countries boycotted the event.
From: Baghdasarian
http://www.independent.co.uk/hei-fi/entertainment/the-human-misery-behind-the-glitz-of-eurovision-7577151.html?origin=internalSearch
Monday 19 March 2012
The deterioration of human rights in Azerbaijan is badly out of tune
with the sunny image the song contest wants to promote, write Jerome
Taylor and Richard Hall
It is seen by Britons as a celebration of kitsch - a harmless event
which millions watch despite our chance of victory being close to nil.
But for many citizens of this year's host country, Azerbaijan,
the Eurovision Song Contest has brought misery as the government
has forcibly evicted thousands from their homes in the run-up to
the competition.
When Azerbaijan won the right to host Eurovision, the government of
President Ilham Aliyev saw a chance to showcase the gas-rich country's
burgeoning economy. Activists were optimistic the high-profile
event would pressure the authoritarian regime to address its abysmal
human-rights record.
But rights groups say the situation is now worse. A report by Human
Rights Watch (HRW) last month revealed a "beautification" scheme for
the capital Baku has led to thousands of people being evicted from
their homes, often in contravention of court orders.
The story told by residents of 5 Agil Gurliyev Street is one example.
The nine-storey tower block overlooks the Baku Crystal Hall Stadium, a
25,000-seat arena being built to host the contest. Many in the building
were forced to leave with very little notice and without proper
compensation, says the HRW report. Those who stayed had electricity
and gas cut. The building is set to be torn down to make way for a
"resort zone", to be used by visitors attending the competition.
The Aliyev government says the demolition has nothing to do with
Eurovision. But the forced evictions are a small part of a larger
human-rights problem. After his father Heydar died in 2003, President
Aliyev introduced some increasingly authoritarian measures. Backed
by billions of dollars from a booming oil and gas sector, he has yet
to win a fair election and has cracked down on opposition voices.
Inspired by the Arab Spring, last March opposition groups led
a series of protests in Baku and in other major cities against
corruption, cronyism and the lack of democratic progress. Scores
were arrested and imprisoned, including opposition politicians,
journalists and bloggers. Human-rights groups estimate more than 60
people in Azerbaijani jails are political prisoners. Late last year
the Azerbaijani government had to assure the European Broadcasting
Union (EBU) - the organisers of Eurovision - that freedom of
speech would be guaranteed for all participants, delegates and
visiting press. Azeri bloggers and human-rights groups were quick
to remark the same privileges are not extended to them. "Azerbaijan
will no doubt offer an opulent stage to voices from across Europe,
but outside the concert hall, few critical voices are tolerated,"
said Amnesty International programme director John Dalhuisen.
While some call for a boycott of the competition, not all activists
believe it is necessary. Instead, many hope media scrutiny accompanying
such an international event will help spotlight their plight. "I
don't think a boycott will actually do much," explains Rasul Jafarov,
a prominent human-rights campaigner who is part of a coalition of
rights activists that has come together under the banner Sing for
Democracy. "Instead what we want to see is journalists, politicians and
those on the delegations look into what is happening in our country."
Others believe Eurovision should take a more critical line. Rachel
Denber, deputy director of the Europe and Central Asia Division of
Human Rights Watch, has called for the EBU to seek assurances from the
Azerbaijani authorities that they will halt all further expropriations
of properties until they can be carried out in a transparent manner.
But the EBU is unlikely to become embroiled in the debate surrounding
Azerbaijan's human-rights. It has repeatedly stated Eurovision is a
non-political event. A spokesman said last week Eurovision "can act
as an agent of change", adding that the EBU would be "disappointed"
if more countries boycotted the event.
From: Baghdasarian