Front Line Defenders: Stop Harassment of Arif and Leyla Yunus

The international fund to support human rights defenders Front Line Defenders has demanded an end to harassment of Leyla and Arif Yunus during their trial in Baku.

The statement says that on 6 August 2015, the Baku Court of Serious Crimes continued the trial of human rights defenders Leyla Yunus and Arif Yunus. During the hearing, the prosecutor recommended a sentence of 11 years in prison for Leyla Yunus, and nine years in prison for Arif Yunus based on the charges of large-scale fraud (Article 178.3.2 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan), tax evasion (Article 213) and forgery (Article 320).

Leyla Yunus is the Director of the Institute for Peace and Democracy (IPD), an organisation promoting the rule of law and involved, among other issues, in conflict resolution and peace-building between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The human rights defender and her organisation have faced judicial harassment and intimidation in the past. Leyla Yunus was awarded the Theodor Haecker Prize the Theodor Haecker Prize in 2013 in recognition of her work. Arif Yunus works to defend the rights of victims of torture and political prisoners, as well as on a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

During the trial hearing, Arif Yunus's health rapidly deteriorated and he lost consciousness, according to the couple's lawyers. As a result, the judge called for a half-hour recess and a doctor was requested. However, even though the doctor did not arrive within that time, all petitions by the defence council to delay the proceedings until the doctor was able to treat Arif were ignored by the judge.

Prior to this, during trial hearings on 3, 4 and 5 August 2015, Arif Yunus had suffered multiple heart problems and had lost consciousness on a number of occasions. The doctor repeatedly administered injections which relieved his symptoms for short periods of time. During the hearing on 3 August he suffered a hypertensive crisis. Despite this, the hearing continued.

Furthermore, access to the courtroom for international independent observers was restricted. No representatives of the independent press were permitted to attend the hearings.

Following the hearing on 6 August 2015, the lawyers of the human rights defenders requested 10 days preparation time for the upcoming hearing. However, this was refused and the trial will continue on 10 August.

Front Line Defenders is extremely concerned for the health of Leyla and Arif Yunus. Front Line Defenders urges the authorities to immediately release them and halt the trial, as it is believed that the charges brought against them are solely motivated by their peaceful and legitimate work promoting and protecting human rights in Azerbaijan.

* The organization Front Line Defenders was founded in Dublin in 2001 to protect human rights defenders at risk. -02D-