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AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHES REPORT DOCUMENTING CASES OF CRACKDOWNS BY AZERBAIJANI AUTHORITIES
15:12 04/03/2015 >> POLITICS
100 days before the Opening Ceremony of the European Games Amnesty
International has published a report documenting a pattern of
intensified harassment and intimidation of activists, journalists
and human rights defenders by the Azerbaijani authorities in recent
years. The report titled "Guilty of Defending Rights: Azerbaijan's
human rights defenders and activists behind bars" presents the
aggravated crackdowns on the government critics who are detained
on false charges, beaten, threatened or denied emergent medical and
legal aid.
"No one should be fooled by the glitz and glamour of the international
show Azerbaijan is putting on to portray a squeaky-clean international
reputation and attract foreign business. Its authorities are among the
most repressive in Europe and would certainly be on the medal-winning
podium if prizes were on offer for the number of activists and rights
defenders behind bars," John Dalhuisen, Amnesty's director for Europe
and Central Asia, said.
According to the report, there are no less that 22 prisoners of
conscience in Azerbaijan awaiting trial following trumped-up charges
ranging from fraud and embezzlement to abuse of drugs and even
treason. In June, 2014 Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan,
addressed to the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE),
declaring that the freedom of expression and freedom of assembly are
guaranteed in Azerbaijan. However, following his speech, prominent
human rights defenders, including Emin Huseynov, Rasul Jafarov and
Intigam Aliyev, and investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova
presented PACE with the very different reality faced by human rights
defenders, journalists, and political opponents, indeed anyone who
dares to criticize the Azerbaijani government. They detailed more
than 90 instances of harassment, intimidation, arbitrary arrest and
politically motivated charges compiled by human rights defenders,
including Leyla and Arif Yunus.
"The response of the authorities was swift and clarified beyond doubt
which of the two pictures of human rights in Azerbaijan is the real
one. Within a matter of weeks, the authorities exacted their revenge.
Those who had given their testimony to PACE started to be arrested,"
the report reads, providing with information about the cases of human
rights defenders, journalists, political opponents, opposition and
online activists, as well as the restrictive NGO laws.
Dalhuisen noted that those latest arrests have effectively paralysed
civil society and closed the lid on freedom of expression - marking
the nadir of the country's human rights record since independence.
"With their eyes on Azerbaijan's petro-dollars, the international
community has been remarkably silent about the country's repressive
tactics and human rights violations. This is horribly shortsighted
and a deep disservice to those currently languishing behind bars,"
he stressed.
As the organization highlights, these serious human rights violations
continued unabated during Azerbaijan's Chairmanship of the Committee
of Ministers of the Council of Europe, despite its stated priority of
"upholding and promoting the core values" of the institution, such
as human rights, the rule of law and democracy.
"Amnesty International calls on the Azerbaijani government to
make good the commitments it has made and take immediate steps
to safeguard human rights. This must include the immediate and
unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience, including those
whose cases are highlighted in this briefing, and full and impartial
investigations into all allegations of torture or other ill-treatment,"
the organization urges.
See also:
NGO coalition warned EOC president about
crackdowns in Azerbaijan prior to European Games
http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2015/02/17/azerbaijan-european-games/
http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2015/03/04/amnestyazerbaijan-european-games/
15:12 04/03/2015 >> POLITICS
100 days before the Opening Ceremony of the European Games Amnesty
International has published a report documenting a pattern of
intensified harassment and intimidation of activists, journalists
and human rights defenders by the Azerbaijani authorities in recent
years. The report titled "Guilty of Defending Rights: Azerbaijan's
human rights defenders and activists behind bars" presents the
aggravated crackdowns on the government critics who are detained
on false charges, beaten, threatened or denied emergent medical and
legal aid.
"No one should be fooled by the glitz and glamour of the international
show Azerbaijan is putting on to portray a squeaky-clean international
reputation and attract foreign business. Its authorities are among the
most repressive in Europe and would certainly be on the medal-winning
podium if prizes were on offer for the number of activists and rights
defenders behind bars," John Dalhuisen, Amnesty's director for Europe
and Central Asia, said.
According to the report, there are no less that 22 prisoners of
conscience in Azerbaijan awaiting trial following trumped-up charges
ranging from fraud and embezzlement to abuse of drugs and even
treason. In June, 2014 Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan,
addressed to the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE),
declaring that the freedom of expression and freedom of assembly are
guaranteed in Azerbaijan. However, following his speech, prominent
human rights defenders, including Emin Huseynov, Rasul Jafarov and
Intigam Aliyev, and investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova
presented PACE with the very different reality faced by human rights
defenders, journalists, and political opponents, indeed anyone who
dares to criticize the Azerbaijani government. They detailed more
than 90 instances of harassment, intimidation, arbitrary arrest and
politically motivated charges compiled by human rights defenders,
including Leyla and Arif Yunus.
"The response of the authorities was swift and clarified beyond doubt
which of the two pictures of human rights in Azerbaijan is the real
one. Within a matter of weeks, the authorities exacted their revenge.
Those who had given their testimony to PACE started to be arrested,"
the report reads, providing with information about the cases of human
rights defenders, journalists, political opponents, opposition and
online activists, as well as the restrictive NGO laws.
Dalhuisen noted that those latest arrests have effectively paralysed
civil society and closed the lid on freedom of expression - marking
the nadir of the country's human rights record since independence.
"With their eyes on Azerbaijan's petro-dollars, the international
community has been remarkably silent about the country's repressive
tactics and human rights violations. This is horribly shortsighted
and a deep disservice to those currently languishing behind bars,"
he stressed.
As the organization highlights, these serious human rights violations
continued unabated during Azerbaijan's Chairmanship of the Committee
of Ministers of the Council of Europe, despite its stated priority of
"upholding and promoting the core values" of the institution, such
as human rights, the rule of law and democracy.
"Amnesty International calls on the Azerbaijani government to
make good the commitments it has made and take immediate steps
to safeguard human rights. This must include the immediate and
unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience, including those
whose cases are highlighted in this briefing, and full and impartial
investigations into all allegations of torture or other ill-treatment,"
the organization urges.
See also:
NGO coalition warned EOC president about
crackdowns in Azerbaijan prior to European Games
http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2015/02/17/azerbaijan-european-games/
http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2015/03/04/amnestyazerbaijan-european-games/