IMS condemns the murder of Azeri journalist

Rasim Aliyev, 30, died in a Baku hospital on 9 August after being severely beaten on 8 August by unknown assailants. The attack was supposedly a reaction to a dispute over a post he had written on Facebook post about a contentious football match, according to a statement made by his sister. He sustained serious injuries as a result of the attack and died several hours after in a Baku hospital.

The climate of impunity – which allows attacks on journalists in Azerbaijan to remain unpunished – is contributing to the ongoing repression of free expression, reads a press release of the International media support (IMS).

 Over the last decade there have been more than 300 attacks against journalists in Azerbaijan. Over the last 12 months, seven journalists and five human rights activists have been arrested and the list of cases of harassment of media and human rights specialists is long.

The authorities must end the unacceptable impunity for crimes of violence against journalists in Azerbaijan. The untimely death of Rasim Aliyev is a stark reminder of Azerbaijan’s detrimental freedom of expression record and the need to create a mechanism for protecting journalists and human rights defenders. IMS is sincerely concerned and angered by the murder of Rasim Aliyev and we extend our condolences to Rasim Aliyev’s family and colleagues at this difficult time.

* International Media Support is a non-profit organisation working to strengthen the capacity of media to reduce conflict, strengthen democracy and facilitate dialogue.-02D-