Women Unite to Defend Nigar Yagublu

Activists with the youth organization of PPFA held a meeting on Thursday regarding the protection of Nigar Yagublu, a “Musavat” party member, who was arrested concerning a traffic accident.

According to organization member Beyim Hasanli, Nigar’s peers and fellow organization members want to show solidarity and to speak in her defense. "It's clear that the arrest of Nigar Yaqub is politically motivated. Authorities did it deliberately to intimidate women activists. Until now, the children of many high-ranking officials were in accidents, but none of them was arrested for some reason," she said.

Neymet Kerimli, Nigar’s lawyer, said that Nigar’s trial is scheduled for tomorrow at 11:00 in the Absheron court. Kerimli said that he had appealed to the Absheron court to change the measure of restraint and replace it with on house arrest. The court refused, citing insufficient argument of protection. Sumgait Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the trial court. At Nigar Yagublu’s preparatory trial, it was noted that during six months of the year, there were 730 traffic accidents, and only 41 arrests. Those who were involved in accidents ran away from the scene, or they were drunk drivers, auto-hooligans. Nigar committed nothing of the kind, so her arrest is illegal, the lawyer said.

Abulfaz Gurbanli, head of the youth leaders of PPFA, called on her peers to unite to protect Nigar, to attend her trial and to support her. Matanat Azizova, head of the Women's Crisis Centre, finds it necessary to intensify appeals to international organizations for the protection of Nigar. "There is very little information about Nigar abroad. We should collect and fill in various petitions," said Azizov.

Deputy Chairman of the Popular Front Gezel Bayramli stated that the family of the deputy chair of the party "Musavat" Tofig Yagublu is very active in the political struggle.

 "Nigar and her sister Nargis are actively involved in all the actions, especially before the contest "Eurovision." For this reason, the repression was directed against this family. It is necessary to activate Nigar’s security in social networks," said Bayramli

"We met with the sister three times in detention, in jail in Kurdakhani. It keeps decent. Authorities avenge us for our activity. The Head of state avenges a young girl," said Nargis Yagublu, Nigar’s sister.

The meeting adopted decision to hold a march with women in defense of Nigar. 24-year-old Nigar Yagublu was arrested in August 2012 on charges pertaining to an automobile accident. -04С-