At Trial on Nardaran Case Witnesses Report of Torture

The Grave Crimes Court in Baku held a meeting on the Nardaran case.

* In the course of a special operation in Nardaran on November 26, 2015 six people were killed in the crossfire, including two policemen. Total in this case about 70 people are involved, mostly members and supporters of the movement Muslim Unity. They are accused of a number of articles of the Criminal Code: attempt to forcibly change the constitutional system, the creation of an organized armed criminal group and others.

Currently, the Grave Crimes Court in Baku holds the trial of 18 people accused in the case. Among them is the deputy chairman of PFPA Fuad Gahramanli, who is accused of anti-state calls, inciting religious hatred and calling for riots. In fact, Gahramanli wrote on his Facebook page an appeal to the Nardaran residents, urging them to defend their rights.

Before the meeting, the accused PFPA deputy chairman Fuad Gahramanli in connection with the upcoming day of Ashura addressed the audience, noting the need to "bring the essence of the events in Karbala in the right way to the society."

"It is impossible to treat these events as mourning. These are pages of heroic struggle. Imam Hussein in Karbala sacrificed his family. If we are now not prepared to make these sacrifices, we can never defeat the power of Umayyad," Gahramanli said.

According to him, today those, who considers himself a follower of Imam Hussein, must lead the fight against those with whom he fought.

When the meeting began the deputy chairman of the movement Muslim Unity Abbas Huseynov said that three of his brothers were arrested with a view to put pressure on him (later all three were released) a few days ago.

Furthermore, an employee of Sabunchu District Police Office Ramin Alakbarov spoke as a witness and a victim. He said that on November 5, 2015 believers conducted a protest action in front of the Sabunchu Police, demanding the release of the detained deputy chairman of the movement Muslim Unity Elchin Gasimov and during the confrontation they broke his shield.

The lawyer Yalcin Imanov asked him if any of the defendants had thrown a stone at him, or broken his shield. The witness replied that he "cannot say this definitely."

Gahramanly said none of the accused had caused harm to the policeman and asked him if he refused of the victim status. Alekperov negatively answered this question.

Further, as a witness spoke Anar Aliyev, who participated in the protests on November 5 and was in custody on another case at the moment. He noted that the faithful gathered in front of Sabunchu Police to ascertain the reasons for the arrest of Elchin Gasimov. According to him, the faithful did not throw stones at the police. According to the witness, the deputy chief of the City Police Sahlab Baghirov gave the police a command to "trample" the believers.

Aliyev said the deputy chief of Sabunchu Police named Shaig tortured people. "Against Taleh they wanted to take testimonies. We were handcuffed, knocked to the floor and trampled. They undressed several guys to underwear and insulted them. Our mouths were bleeding. Then we were kept in a cool place overnight. They even did not let us go to the toilet. After the Nardaran events they began to torture us in the department against organized crime. They tortured us with electric shocks. Kerim Alimardanov led those who used torture. He said if I did not say I had received orders from Taleh Bagirzadeh, then they would detain my father and charge him with possession of drugs," said the witness.

Responding to questions from lawyers, he said Taleh Bagirzadeh never talked about a coup - on the contrary, he always pointed out the need to protect human rights. "Our goal is to free the democracy arrested in Azerbaijan," Aliyev said.

Another witness, also under arrest, Niftali Veliyev said he knows none of the accused. On November 5 he participated in the action in front of Sabunchu Police to ascertain the reasons for the arrest of Elchin Gasimov. Veliyev said employees of the rapid response regiment of MIA started beating the believers. Then all were detained. Veliyev was offered to berate Bagirzadeh to the video. "I did not agree and I was appointed 6 years in prison," said Veliyev.

The witness Latif Ahmedov also said the faithful that gathered before the Sabunchu Police on November 5 were beaten and then arrested, insulted and tortured.

Another witness Elvin Bunyadov said he was planted a gun and demanded to insult Bagirzadeh to the video. At the same time, according to Bunyadov, the chief of Sabunchu Police spat in the face of the detainees. He was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months of imprisonment

The witness Sahil Rzayev was also arrested on 5 November. He was asked why he had traveled to Iran. When he replied he had visited the tomb of Imam Reza for pilgrimage, police insulted him. "In the Yasamal Police the son of Sattar Mehbalyev (head of the Confederation of Trade Unions of Azerbaijan, MP) Isfendiyar Mehbaliyev offered me a car and a travel to Dubai for entertainment in exchange for testimony against Taleh Bagirzadeh. Otherwise, I was threatened with arrest of my mother and sisters. I said I would not go against Taleh. For 15 days in the Binagadi initial investigation jail I vomited with blood," said the witness.

The hearing will continue on October 14. -90C06--