Agaali Yahyaev: A Harrowing Tale of Torture and False Confessions Amid Crackdown on Believers

Bakı/07.09.23/Turan: In a chilling case that has sent shockwaves through the nation, Agaali Yahyaev, a prominent member of the Muslim Unity movement, has alleged torture and threats of sexual violence by the authorities following his arrest on drug trafficking charges. The shocking revelation has raised questions about the motives behind criminal cases brought against believers and ignited a heated debate over human rights abuses in Azerbaijan.

According to  Yahyaev's sister, Elnara Eldar, her brother was apprehended on August 31 in the village of Mehdiabad by officers from the Main Drug Control Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. What followed was a horrifying ordeal that casts a shadow over the country's justice system.

"A man with the rank of colonel and others tried for almost 2 hours to convince him to confess to possession and sale of drugs," Ms. Eldar recounted. "Seeing that my brother did not agree, they began to torture him. Having tied his hands, they began to strike his body with their fists, beat him on the heels with a baton. Agaali's legs swelled from these blows. Despite the torture, Agaali refused to confess to a crime he did not commit."

The unimaginable horror escalated when the authorities resorted to threats of sexual violence. "They threatened to rape him with a baseball bat," Ms. Eldar revealed. Under the unbearable pressure, Yahyaev was ultimately forced to confess to a crime he vehemently denied.

These shocking allegations have been brought to light by human rights activist Arzu Abdullayeva and Shahana Hasanova, the wife of Agaali Yahyaev, during a program titled "Difficult Question."

Hasanova detailed the harrowing circumstances her husband endured after his detention. "There a certain colonel and other police officers began to reproach him, saying 'you go to the courts, you speak in them. Don't do that.' Apparently, the husband began to object to them. Seeing that Yahyaev would not follow these advices, this colonel told him: 'If you don't understand in a good way, then we will have to convince you otherwise.'"

These allegations have raised significant concerns over a broader crackdown on believers, particularly members of the Muslim Unity movement, who have been targeted with drug trafficking charges. Arzu Abdullayeva revealed a disturbing trend in recent arrests, which began with the detention of activist Mahir Azimov last year.

"The persecution began with Mahir Azimov, and then mass arrests of believers began. Moreover, it was the Shiites who were persecuted, presenting it as a fight against Iranian spies, calling these people traitors to the Motherland," said Abdullayeva.

The motive behind these criminal cases, according to Abdullayeva, lies in the difficulty of proving espionage and treason, necessitating the need for more tangible evidence to convince the public of guilt. "It is much easier to put people behind bars, accusing them of possession and sale of drugs," she argued.

As the nation grapples with these horrifying revelations, questions surrounding the treatment of believers and the integrity of the criminal justice system continue to loom large, demanding urgent attention and action from authorities.