UN High Commissioner calls for the release of political prisoners in Azerbaijan

On Tuesday the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad  Al-Hussein condemned the continuing pressure on the civil society in Azerbaijan. "Despite my repeated appeals to the highest state authorities, including the president of the country on excessive pressure, harassment and intimidation of journalists, human rights defenders and government agencies, such incidents continue,"  said Zeid. "I urge the immediate release of all those who have been imprisoned for exercising their right to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, as well as protection of the rights of other people," he added.

On September 1, 2015, a human rights activist and journalist Khadija Ismailova, was sentenced to seven years and six months' imprisonment in Baku. The court did not meet international standards.

Ismayilova  waspersecuted for her professional activities. Ismayilova is  an author of the report on human rights violations and corruption in Azerbaijan.

"Ismayilova is the latest example of the suppression of independent voices in the country. The Azerbaijani authorities have imprisoned a number of other journalists, human rights defenders and activists, including: Leyla and Arif Yunus, Intigam Aliyev, Anar Mammadli and Rasul Jafarov, based on various dubious charges,"  said Zeid .

 The United Nations Office for Human Rights had received alarming reports of a fragile state of health and the deterioration of some of these prisoners. "I call on the Azerbaijani authorities to immediately release the seriously ill prisoners on humanitarian grounds," said Zeid, and called on the government to repeal the recent legislative amendments restricting  the activities and funding of NGOs and civil society in  the whole. -1606D-