Baku/09.04.13/Turan, "Reporters without Borders" and the Committee to Protect Journalists has condemned the sentences against Araz Guliyev, the editor of the Islamic website Xebet44, acting in Lankaran.
On April 5 the Court of Grave Crimes in Lankaran sentenced Araz Guliyev to 8 years in prison.
"In spite of the views expressed by this website, it is clear that the right of Guliyev's protection has been violated and the sentence was retaliation for his writing and political views," said the news release from the organization.
In addition to his sentence, seven others received prison sentences of 3 to 7 years. They organized a protest in September 2012 during a music festival, where there were lightly dressed girls. Islamists considered it a disgrace and demanded an end to the event.
In a statement, the Committee to Protect Journalists says that the charges against the Journalists were fabricated and called the Court of Appeals to overturn the lower court decision.
"The authorities must repeal the unwarranted sentence and stop the deterioration of press freedom," said Robert Mahoney, CPJ Assistant Head.
Earlier, the CPJ called on President Ilham Aliyev to end repression of the independent press. -02D-
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