Dozens sign a petition on White House site calling for Huseynli"s release

A petition on the White House website created by "J.M." of Maryland is calling for help to release an Azerbaijani local human rights activist Hasan Huseynli of the country's western city of Ganja, who got arrested on March 31st, on charges of hooliganism, TURAN's Washington, DC correspondent reports.

In less than half a day, the petition, titled "Help Free Hasan Huseynli: Wrongly imprisoned youth development and civil right supporter in the Republic of Azerbaijan" has garnered nearly 100 signatures. It needs thousands of signatures to get the US president's attention.

According to the petition, Mr. Huseynli, a director of Ganja Education Information Center, has been arrested on charges of "hooliganism" and stabbing.

"We are urging the government of Azerbaijan to free Hasan Huseynli and drop the false charges against him. We ask for support from anyone who believes in civil rights and youth development to give their support to help us free this great man and empower the people of Azerbaijan," the petition reads.

"This man," add the authors,, "is inspirational to many young people in Azerbaijan, and is a wonderful ally to Peace Corps Volunteers. Hasan has helped so many young people to gain their voice's that we must now speak for him. Free Hasan Huseynli!"

For the White House to respond, the petition needs to reach the 100,000 mark by May 1. -25B-