Front Line Defenders demand release of Hilal Mammadov

Human rights defender Mr Hilal Mamedov was arrested on 21 June and charged for alleged possession of heroin. He is a consultant with the Institute for Democracy and Peace and editor in chief of Tolishi Sado (Talysh Voice), the only newspaper in the Talysh minority language in Azerbaijan.

   He was also the head of the Committee for the Defence of Novruzali Mamedov, a prominent Talysh scientist and human rights activist charged in June 2008 with espionage in favour of Iran and subsequently sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment. Novruzali Mamedov died as a result of torture in prison in 2010.

    In the evening of 21 June, 20 police officers arrived to the home of Hilal Mamedov in order to carry out a search, following which they claimed they had found 5 gr. of heroin. His colleagues believe that this accusation and alleged discovery is completely unfounded, and no evidence was provided for the accusation. One of the policeman reportedly asked Hilal Mamedov's father: “Why was your son defending Talysh people? Did he not know how it can end up?”

     The following day, 22 June, Hilal Mamedov was brought before the Nizami District Court, which authorised a pre-trial detention for a period of three months in order to complete the investigation on possession and distribution of drugs. Art. 234 of the Criminal Code, under which he was charged, carries a penalty of 5 to 12 years of imprisonment. The court rejected the lawyer's application to release Hilal Mamedov, but accepted a complaint of ill treatment, documented in photographs. The complaint was sent to the prosecutor of the Nizami district of Baku. 

    Hilal Mamedov is currently detained in the Shuvalan preliminary investigation prison.

At the time of his arrest in February 2008, prominent Talysh scientist and human rights defender Novruzali Mamedov was also editor of “Talysh Voice” newspaper and head of the Talysh Cultural Centre. He was charged with espionage for Iran, and tortured to death in prison in 2010 (see https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/2129).

   Front Line Defenders condemns the prosecution of Halil Mamedov and believes that the charges brought against him are directly linked to his legitimate human rights work. We are extremely concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Hilal Mamedov.

    Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in Azerbaijan to:   Immediately release Hilal Mamedov and drop the charges against him, as it is believed that they are solely motivated by his legitimate and peaceful work in defence of human rights;

     Ensure the physical and psychological safety of Hilal Mamedov and that he has access to medical care in light of his reported ill treatment;

     Carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the alleged physical abuse, with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards;

     Take immediate measures to ensure that human rights defenders defending the rights of Talysh and of other national minorities can do so without fear of harassment;

     Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Azerbaijan are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment. -0-