Azerbaijani lawyer honored at State Department vows to keep fighting for justice and rights

Shahla Humbatova is a fearless defense lawyer in a country where lawyers themselves often need defense because of the exercise of their profession.

On Wednesday, March 4, Humbatova became first ever Azerbaijani recipient of the International Women of Courage Award (IWCA) presented by the U.S. first lady, Melania Trump, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for her work defending fundamental freedoms in Azerbaijan, and being a strong advocate for her clients in politically sensitive cases despite significant personal and professional risk.

“I'm being awarded today for a very reason that I'm punished back at home," Humbatova told TURAN's Washington correspondent after being honored at the State Department.

In November 2019, the the Azerbaijan Bar Association suspended Humbatova's licence and has been seeking her disbarment from the court on the basis of a complaint from a past client and the alleged failure to pay several months of Bar membership fees. The lawyer dismisses the accusations and considers such ABA measures disproportionate and retaliatory for her human rights defence work.

"Imagine being punished in your own country for the very activity that gets you rewarded at the highest level in another country,"  Humbatova told TURAN, addiing that human rights values are "valued by the world".

Humbatova was among 12 women selected for the IWCA award this year. They included a civil rights activist who was imprisoned and tortured in Syria, a prominent critic of domestic violence in Armenia, a medical doctor who was one of the first victims to speak publicly about the Chinese Communist Party’s repression of Muslim minorities. Others are from Afghanistan, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Yemen and Zimbabwe.

Their stories “humble and inspire us all,” said Secretary Pompeo in his speach. "We need to honor these women every day, women of courage that are on this stage, and all of the women around the world who are engaged in this excellent activity that is so important for our families, for our governments, and for our world."

Addressing the ceremony first lady Melania Trump said the awardees "represent the strength of the female spirit... Each of them have demonstrated acts of courage and leadership, often at risk to their own personal safety.”

Courage, she added, is "something that is not easily taught and is closely tied with bravery, humility and sacrifice.”

In her interview to TURAN Humbatova said, she will keep fighting for justice and rights in Azerbaijan "no matter what".

The award ceremony was attended by dozens of high level officials, rights activitst, as well as diplomats from respectful countries. Lee Lutsemberger, U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaian, was among the participants who congratilated Humbatova in person, while his Azerbaijani colleaugue, Elin Suleymanov, didn't show up at the event, "despite invitation", Humbatova told TURAN, adding that she felt "disappointed, albeit not surprised".

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.