Court Leaves Mammad Ibrahim in Custody

Baku / 05.10.18 / Turan: The Baku Court of Appeal on Thursday rejected the complaint about the arrest of the adviser to the chairman of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), Mammad Ibrahim.

Recall that Mammad Ibrahim was arrested on September 30, 2015 and convicted on charges of hooliganism for 3 years in prison. He was recognized by human rights activists as a political prisoner.

A few days ago, one day before the end of the prison term, he was charged with illegal possession of prohibited items (knife), which threatens him with 6 more months of imprisonment.

On September 28, the Yasamal Court chose a measure of restraint in the form of arrest for a period of 2 months with regard to Ibrahim.

As lawyer Javad Javadov told Turan, Ibrahim himself participated in the proceedings in the appellate court and said that the new accusation, like the previous one, is completely far-fetched. The knife, the storage of which is imputed to him, has nothing to do with him.

The defense plans to prepare a complaint about the arrest with the Strasbourg court. In addition, the lawyer will prepare a petition to change the preventive measure of arrest for house arrest.

A group of Ibrahim"s supporters gathered outside the courthouse. The leader of the Popular Front Party Ali Kerimli said the new prosecution of Ibrahim testifies to the authorities' intention to continue repression.

"The Ganja events have shown that the authorities are also carrying out harsh repressions against people who are not related to politics. In Ganja, more than 70 people were arrested, and 6 were killed," said Kerimli. In his opinion, repression can be stopped only through mass civil activity. -03B06-