Activists Demand Meeting with Abbas Huseynov

Baku / 01.05.18 / Turan: A group of prominent representatives of civil society sent an appeal to the Azerbaijani authorities, expressing concern over reports of torture in the Gobustan closed prison over the activist of the movement Muslim Unity Abbas Huseynov. The appeal was circulated on behalf of the Working Group on the drafting of a single list of political prisoners.

On April 30, Huseynov's mother reported torturing her son in the Gobustan prison and causing him numerous bodily injuries. The penitentiary service denied her application.

The members of the Working Group recall that the Government has obligations within the framework of the national legislation and international treaties to objectively and effectively investigate the facts of torture.

At the same time, they pay attention to the fact that statements about torture and inhuman treatment of Huseynov are not the first time they have been publicized by himself and his lawyers.

However, as the authors of the appeal note with regret, until now the facts of torture over Huseynov and other political prisoners have not been investigated.

The authors of the appeal, sharing the concerns of Huseynov's relatives and the public in general, raise the question of allowing representatives of the Working Group to meet with the state bodies.

"If the authorities are so convinced that there was no torture against Abbas Huseynov and they are ready to cooperate with the public, then they should let us, former political prisoners, together with lawyers, journalists and employees of the Penitentiary Service, the Ombudsman's office and other state bodies meet him. The rejection of this proposal will confirm the veracity of information about torture over Abbas Huseynov. This fact will also prove that torture is used, including as an instrument in the struggle of power against political opponents," the appeal says.

The authors of the appeal also draw attention to the fact that lawyers who publish the facts of torture and ill-treatment are then removed from the Bar Association on the basis of submissions by judges and law enforcers.

The authors of the appeal note that they themselves witnessed torture while in prison. The activists demand a serious investigation into the torture of Huseynov and other political prisoners, the failure to provide them with medical treatment, the violation of their right to have telephone conversations and receive books, and the failure to ensure the safety of people held in closed institutions.

In the event that no measures are taken in this direction, the Working Group reserves the right to launch an international campaign against torture in prisons.

The appeal was signed by Intigam Aliyev, Rasul Jafarov, Anar Mammadli, Samir Kazymly, Khadija Ismayilova, Rovshan Hajibeyli, Khalid Baghirov and Annaghi Hajibeyli.

* Abbas Huseynov was arrested during a special operation in Nardaran in November 2015 and was subsequently sentenced to 20 years in prison on charges of terrorism, an attempt to change the constitutional order, storage of weapons, etc. -06D--