Art for Democracy of Pressure on Cultural Workers

The Human Rights Campaign Art for Democracy,   in spite of pressure from the authorities, is determined to promote its ideas of democracy and human rights through the arts. It was reported today at a roundtable organized by the initiators of the campaign by the Institute for Reporters Freedom and Safety (IRFS). The event was attended by journalists, civil society activists, representatives of embassies and international organizations.

The campaign Art for Democracy was launched in December last year by the three NGOs in the country - "Human Rights Club" (HRC), the Institute for Reporters Freedom and Safety (IRFS), and the Center for National and International Studies (CNIS.)

According to the coordinator of the campaign and the head of the HRC, Rasul Jafarov, over the past three months the public have been informed about the campaign, Eurovision Song Contest with the title of Music for Democracy which has been organized. Its results will be announced in April.

Jafarov said that from the beginning of the campaign, initiators faced pressure from the authorities. Immediately after the presentation of the contest they were attacked from the pages of the ruling body of the party "Yeni Azerbaijan".

In addition, the Azerbaijani authorities have prevented the return of the Director of the campaign, Rebecca Vincent, a citizen of the UK,  saying that her return to Azerbaijan is ‘undesirable’.

The Director of the CNIS, Leyla Aliyeva noted that the purpose of the campaign is to instill the idea of liberty through culture to the public.

"In fact, this is the most painless way for the government to spread democracy.  The spread of freedom through culture is always peaceful and non-violent. Therefore, this is such a tough response to our campaign," she said. 

Jafarov said that in April and May, after the song contest, they are going to hold a competition for the best essay on democracy, exhibitions of artists, photographers, cartoonists, etc.

"We have a lot of plans, but financial resources are limited, and the implementation of these plans will depend on the support of donors," he said.

In the coming days, an alternative report on the situation in Azerbaijan and on the rights of citizens in these areas will be sent to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. At the end of April the Committee will review the situation in Azerbaijan, and in addition to a government report, will hear alternative reports from the NGOs.

The report focuses on the facts of the mass eviction of citizens under the pretext of public amenities and infrastructure projects; discrimination against cultural workers, such as the pressure on the Union of Cinematographers and its head Rustam Ibrahimbekov; recent administrative detention of the rapper Dado; the forced emigration  of the rappers  Jamal Aliyev and  Azer Cirtdan; harassment  of the writer Akram Aylisli;  the dismissal of Ilgar Jahangir  from the Young Spectator Theater and the withdrawal from sale of the books by Bakhtiyar Hidayat "Open Lies".

During the discussions, the leader of the Democratic Alliance, Mirfazil Hamid, talked about the monopolization of culture on TV. According to him, TV channels allow air only to certain persons on the list from the top, and prevents the entry of young talent.—06C-