Baku / 03.05.18 / Turan: May 3 is celebrated as World Press Freedom Day. In 1993, the UN General Assembly proclaimed the World Press Freedom Day on May 3, which was the result of the work of the UNESCO General Conference, which in its resolution 1991 on Promoting Press Freedom in the World recognized that free, pluralistic and independent press is an indispensable component of any democratic society.
World Press Freedom Day is an annual reminder to the international community that freedoms of the press and expression are fundamental rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Theme of 2018: Keep power under control: the media, justice and the rule of law.
On the occasion of the Press Freedom Day, UN Secretary General Antonio Gutierrez called for fighting for media freedom:
"Freedom of the press is of great importance for peace, justice and respect for the human rights of all people, an important condition for the formation of transparent and democratic societies and accountability of power. Without free press, sustainable development is also impossible.
Journalists and other media workers cover local and global problems. Their merit in society is invaluable.
It is necessary to adopt and implement laws that protect the independence of journalists, freedom of expression and the right to information, and support them with law enforcement measures. Crimes against journalists should be prosecuted.
On World Press Freedom Day of 2018, I call on governments to fight for freedom of the press and to protect journalists. Defending the freedom of the press, we uphold our right to know the truth. "
According to the rating of freedom of press in the world for the year 2017 of the International Human Rights Organization Freedom House, Azerbaijan was in the top ten of the worst violators of press freedom - 190th place. The situation was characterized by the blocking of websites, the tightening of legislation in the field of freedom of speech, the arrest of journalists, and the persecution of activists of social networks.
According to the number of arrested journalists and bloggers, Azerbaijan is among the top ten journalist jailers in the world. So, according to data at the beginning of 2018, 12 journalists and bloggers who were subjected to criminal prosecution for freedom of expression were imprisoned in Azerbaijan.
Last year, the international journalist organization Reporters Without Borders published its annual Press Freedom Index in the World-2017, in which Azerbaijan was placed 163rd. --0-----
Politics
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On November 28, the Tbilisi City Court ruled to extradite Afgan Sadigov, the head of the website Azel.TV, to Azerbaijan. This was reported by his wife Sevinj Sadigova. The defense will appeal the court's decision.
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The leader of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (APFP), Ali Kerimli, has stated that his internet blockade has become more severe. “For almost five years, I have been under an internet blockade. But recently, it has taken on an openly blatant and shameless form,” Kerimli said during a press conference today.
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On November 27, an online hearing took place at the Khatai District Court regarding a petition from the defense for the release of Alaskar Mammadli, the founder of Toplum TV, under house arrest. Mammadli has been in custody at Baku’s Detention Center No. 1. The court denied the petition, Mammadli's brother, Nasimi Mammadli.
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On November 28, another hearing took place in the case of public activist Ilhamiz Guliyev. During the proceedings, the court reviewed a response from the 28th Police Station of the Yasamal District in Baku. At the previous hearing, the defense had requested that the court obtain footage from the surveillance cameras at this police station, where Guliyev was taken on December 4 of last year. However, the police response stated that the video footage had not been preserved.
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