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Transparency International ranks Azerbaijan slightly worse than
Pakistan, CNN reports
17:28, 24 March, 2012
BAKU, MARCH 24, ARMENPRESS: CNN has referred to disgraceful
interference of Azerbaijani authorities into the personal life of
investigative journalist of the Azerbaijani service at Radio Liberty
Khadija Ismayilova and in that context - the policy Azerbaijani
leadership has assumed, Armenpress reports.
As CNN reports, Khadija Ismayilova, a radio talk show host, is afraid
the sexually explicit images could ignite religious rage against her
in the conservative country. The video of her and her boyfriend was
recorded via a hidden camera in her bedroom and then posted
anonymously on a website imitating the homepage of the New Equality
Party, a rival of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party.
Social mores in the Muslim society are not as strict as they are in
neighboring Iran, Ismayilova says, but they''''re "similar to rural
Turkey." Honor killings for behavior outside of accepted morals are a
reality in Azerbaijan.
The video surfaced a week after Ismayilova received a threatening
letter by mail "containing photos of a personal nature," according to
a news release from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, a democracy
advocacy organization that broadcasts her shows and publishes articles
that she writes.
People in high places could have reason to be angry with Ismayilova
for her reporting. She has written articles implying that the
daughters of President Ilham Aliyev could have a secret ownership
stake in Azerfon, the country''''s major mobile telecom company. She
has also connected the president''''s family to the ownership of a
bank and alleged that the relationship was used for shady dealings.
Presidential spokesman Elnur Aslanov declined to comment on
Ismayilova''''s stories, but he condemned the video a day after it
surfaced, blaming it on "subversive forces who try to violate the
stability in Azerbaijan."
Aslanov also said Thursday that authorities "will make all efforts to
identify and punish the persons who are behind this dirty action."
Tensions run high between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the disputed
breakaway region Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as Armenia''''s military
occupation of adjacent Azerbaijani territory. Creating the impression
that Ismayilova is connected to Armenia can easily stoke additional
passions against her with the Azerbaijani public.
"Azerbaijan is an open democratic state with free media," said
presidential spokesman Aslanov, who is also head of the country''''s
Political Analysis and Information Department.
The Aliyev family has held on to power for nearly four decades. The
current president''''s father, Heydar Aliyev, was in office for almost
30 years before he died. The current president ascended to the office
in a landslide election that was boycotted by opposition parties and
criticized as below standards by the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe, which monitors elections internationally.
The former Soviet republic has recently raised its profile on the
international stage. It was elected to the U.N. Security Council in
October and has put in a bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympics.
But Transparency International, which tracks the perception of
corruption in countries around the world, ranks Azerbaijan slightly
worse than Pakistan, on a level with Belarus and Nigeria. It used to
be lower, CNN reads.
"In May, Azerbaijan will host the Eurovision Song Contest, with
participants coming from Europe, North Africa and parts of the Middle
East. Journalists from about 40 countries are also expected, which
will mean increased global press exposure.
The website featuring the Ismayilova video was traced back to a Web
hosting company based in Texas called HostGator. CNN contacted the
company to ask about who posted the website with the video. Despite
multiple requests, a customer service representative refused to
connect CNN with its press office or give out its telephone number. An
e-mail to multiple recipients at the company remains unanswered, CNN
reports.
From: A. Papazian
Pakistan, CNN reports
17:28, 24 March, 2012
BAKU, MARCH 24, ARMENPRESS: CNN has referred to disgraceful
interference of Azerbaijani authorities into the personal life of
investigative journalist of the Azerbaijani service at Radio Liberty
Khadija Ismayilova and in that context - the policy Azerbaijani
leadership has assumed, Armenpress reports.
As CNN reports, Khadija Ismayilova, a radio talk show host, is afraid
the sexually explicit images could ignite religious rage against her
in the conservative country. The video of her and her boyfriend was
recorded via a hidden camera in her bedroom and then posted
anonymously on a website imitating the homepage of the New Equality
Party, a rival of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party.
Social mores in the Muslim society are not as strict as they are in
neighboring Iran, Ismayilova says, but they''''re "similar to rural
Turkey." Honor killings for behavior outside of accepted morals are a
reality in Azerbaijan.
The video surfaced a week after Ismayilova received a threatening
letter by mail "containing photos of a personal nature," according to
a news release from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, a democracy
advocacy organization that broadcasts her shows and publishes articles
that she writes.
People in high places could have reason to be angry with Ismayilova
for her reporting. She has written articles implying that the
daughters of President Ilham Aliyev could have a secret ownership
stake in Azerfon, the country''''s major mobile telecom company. She
has also connected the president''''s family to the ownership of a
bank and alleged that the relationship was used for shady dealings.
Presidential spokesman Elnur Aslanov declined to comment on
Ismayilova''''s stories, but he condemned the video a day after it
surfaced, blaming it on "subversive forces who try to violate the
stability in Azerbaijan."
Aslanov also said Thursday that authorities "will make all efforts to
identify and punish the persons who are behind this dirty action."
Tensions run high between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the disputed
breakaway region Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as Armenia''''s military
occupation of adjacent Azerbaijani territory. Creating the impression
that Ismayilova is connected to Armenia can easily stoke additional
passions against her with the Azerbaijani public.
"Azerbaijan is an open democratic state with free media," said
presidential spokesman Aslanov, who is also head of the country''''s
Political Analysis and Information Department.
The Aliyev family has held on to power for nearly four decades. The
current president''''s father, Heydar Aliyev, was in office for almost
30 years before he died. The current president ascended to the office
in a landslide election that was boycotted by opposition parties and
criticized as below standards by the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe, which monitors elections internationally.
The former Soviet republic has recently raised its profile on the
international stage. It was elected to the U.N. Security Council in
October and has put in a bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympics.
But Transparency International, which tracks the perception of
corruption in countries around the world, ranks Azerbaijan slightly
worse than Pakistan, on a level with Belarus and Nigeria. It used to
be lower, CNN reads.
"In May, Azerbaijan will host the Eurovision Song Contest, with
participants coming from Europe, North Africa and parts of the Middle
East. Journalists from about 40 countries are also expected, which
will mean increased global press exposure.
The website featuring the Ismayilova video was traced back to a Web
hosting company based in Texas called HostGator. CNN contacted the
company to ask about who posted the website with the video. Despite
multiple requests, a customer service representative refused to
connect CNN with its press office or give out its telephone number. An
e-mail to multiple recipients at the company remains unanswered, CNN
reports.
From: A. Papazian