“End of Torture” Campaign on Prospects

Baku/29.10.19/Turan: The Committee against "Repression and Torture" today officially announced the start of the public campaign "End to Torture".

As the head of the Committee, Ogtay Gyulalyev, stated at a press conference today, in recent years, law enforcement agencies have widely used torture and this practice is supported at the state level. The goal of the campaign is to organize public resistance to torture.

As part of the campaign, an organizing committee of nine people was created, which will conduct work in several areas.

“We will turn to the official bodies to take action against officials who used torture,” Gyulalyev said. In addition, filing lawsuits from victims will be arranged.

Information on torture will be collected and then a report will be published.

“We will raise the issue of sanctions against those who use torture in Azerbaijan before international organizations. We plan to hold protests in front of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and other departments,” he said.

A flash mob will also be held, videos will be prepared, and informational and educational materials will be posted on social networks. Measures of public censure and solidarity are planned, as well as meetings with local and international organizations, Gyulalyev added.

Member of the PFPA Presidium, Irada Nariman, reported frequent administrative arrests. If in 2016, only 30-32 people were administratively arrested for political reasons, then in 10 months of this year - 80 people. In October alone, 33 people were arrested, and 57-year-old PFPA activist Pasha Umudov was charged with a criminal charge. Currently, there are still 20 PFPA activists under arrest. Today, a political activist and journalist Emin Maniev was detained in front of the Baku Court of Appeal.

“He was detained and taken away in an unknown direction. If this is done in a public place in front of everyone, it’s not difficult to imagine that they can echo with people in closed places,” Nariman said.

According to a member of the National Council of Democratic Forces, Eldaniz Guliyev, the use of torture pursues the goal of instilling fear in society. “But sometimes it has the effect of shock therapy and awakens people,” Guliyev said.

Human rights activist Alovsat Sadigli said the committee would compile information on police officers and other individuals who tortured citizens at a rally and in places of detention. –06D-