Nemat Panahli is on a Hunger Strike in Prison

There is athreat to the life of the leader of Azerbaijan National Statehood party (ANSP), Nemat Panahli, who is serving sentence in jail N17, said Sardar Alibayli, at a press conference in Media Center on Wednesday. Alibayli is the former editor of the non-functioning newspaper, “PS Nota”.

According to Alibayli, on 18 December, Panahli was again placed in a punishment cell. The first time he was in the punishment cell was from 6 to 16 December. These measures were because Panahli violated the jail’s regime. 

Alibayli noted, since December 13, Panahli has been on a hunger strike, which is dangerous, because it he suffers from diabetes. The colony’s management, constantly provoke Panahli to illegal activities. "The administration knows Panahli is sensitive to the injustices done to prisoners. Thus, on December 6, there was a serious conflict, and troops were brought to the jail.  This incident was hidden from the public. Alibeyli said, almost all prisoners were brutally beaten by the troops, and Panahli was put into a punishment cell for 10 days.

"The main purpose of the press conference is the desire to tell about the terrible situation in places of detention, in particular, in jail N17. We want to raise awareness of prisoner abuse, and the danger that threatens Nemat Panahli," said Alibayli. He believes that "the authorities deliberately want to eliminate Panahli as they fear of his impact on the public."

Panahli was arrested in January 2011, and sentenced to six years in prison on charges of hooliganism and inflicting bodily injuries.–04C06--