Civil Society against Revival of Inquisition Methods

Baku / 26.05.16Turan /: The Association Civil Society Platform (CSP) has published an evaluation document in connection with the growth of torture in places of detention, particularly in police stations, as well as during mass actions on the part of officials.

Lack of measures against abuse of office and torture against innocent citizens contributes to the growth of such crimes.

CSP notes with regret that still no official has been punished for torture. Due to the prevailing impunity, a practice of inhuman treatment and violence has increasingly amplified and leads to human death.

So, in recent years Parviz Mikayilov, Elshad Babayev, Noorani Ibragimov, Bahruz Hajiyev and Rashad Mehdiyev died from torture in detention.

"Recent cases of torture, inhuman and degrading treatment of youth activists Giyas Ibrahimov and Bayram Mammadov, who wrote Happy Slaves on the monument to Heydar Aliyev, ad attempts to disprove it by the Ombudsman indicate that mistreatment did not reduce and is on the rise," the document noted.

CSP reminds of Azerbaijan's commitment to preventing torture. Thus, pursuant to Part III of Article 46 of the Constitution, no one shall be subjected to torture, inhuman and degrading treatment.

According to article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, no one shall be subjected to torture, inhuman and degrading treatment.

Torture is prohibited by article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

In addition, Azerbaijan has joined a number of other conventions of the Council of Europe and the UN prohibiting torture, inhuman treatment, and others.

Despite this, the government of Azerbaijan has failed to fulfill the obligations under these instruments.

In addition, Azerbaijan ignores the execution of the European Court of Human Rights verdicts, although in accordance with Article 46 of the European Convention, it shall be bound by them.

The Azerbaijani government creates obstacles for international monitoring of torture. So, in 2014, the UN Sub-mission on Human Rights was forced to interrupt its visit to Azerbaijan due to obstacles in its work, although the authorities were obliged to create conditions for their visits to places of detention.

Despite Azerbaijan's cooperation with the European Committee against Torture, Baku prohibits this committee to publish its reports. This is practiced only by Azerbaijan and Russia among the Council of Europe member states.

"Shameful is the renaissance of methods of the medieval Inquisition in the 21^st century. CSP intends to continue its fight against antihuman actions and requires responsible attitude of the Government to its obligations to international organizations," the document stated.

* The Association Civil Society Platform (CSP) was created by a group of independent NGOs, journalists and experts in February 2016. -06D-