Month of Human Rights Becomes Their Violation - Expert

Baku / 14.06.18 / Turan: The month of human rights protection announced by the Azerbaijani Ombudsman turned into a month of defamation of human rights. Such an opinion in an interview for the Chetin Sual (Difficult Question) program of the Turan news agency was stated by a member of the Civil Society Working Group to compile a list of political prisoners, Samir Kazimli, commenting the month of human rights announced from 18 May to 18 June.

Nothing particularly good was ever marked this month. On the contrary, during this period, a number of political activists who were tortured were arrested, including on criminal charges.

The administrative lawyer Emin Aslan, who had just returned to the country after receiving a master's degree in the United States, was arrested.

The powers of the well-known lawyer Irada Javadova were terminated.

"All this is happening at the very Human Rights Month, which will be remembered more as a month of human rights violations," said Kazimli.

According to him, to improve the situation, the thinking of the authorities on this issue should be changed.

Despite the adoption of laws and accession to international conventions, in practice, human rights are not only not respected, but are massively violated.

"There are more than 100 political prisoners in Azerbaijan. There are numerous facts of violations of the property rights of citizens. Even the rights of the human rights defenders themselves are violated," Kazimli said. According to him, politically motivated arrests and facts of torture become routine. This does not even cause a resonance.

Violated are also the right to free elections, social rights, women's rights, and children's rights.

Kazimli negatively assessed the activities of the Ombudsman, called to guard human rights. According to him, the Ombudsman has broad powers, but they are not used. Representatives of the Ombudsman are indifferent to their functions.

For example, they formally visit places of detention.

When asked what is the way out of the situation, Kazimli replied that civil society should continue its activities despite all difficulties. All facts of human rights violations must be recorded, documented and submitted to international organizations. On the other hand, the authorities must understand that such a policy leads the country to a precipice, Kazimli said. -06D--