Baku/06.12.13/Turan : While official Baku proudly holds a regional forum to discuss the future of the Internet in the country, pursuit of local activists seeking to draw attention to the appalling human rights situation continues. This is stated in a statement released on the eve of the Institute of Reporters Freedom and Safety .
December 3-5, held in Baku I Regional Forum on Internet Governance (RIFAZ- 2013 ) . He was held under the slogan " Internet as an engine of regional development and promotion of " Forum organized the Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies of Azerbaijan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
A three-day forum in a hostile atmosphere in the country by the opposition cast a shadow on the credibility of the event.
Currently in custody in Azerbaijan are 9 journalists and three human rights activists, arrested for criticizing the regime .
Convened by the UN Secretary General, the Internet Governance Forum was to bring together as equal partners in government , civil society and other stakeholders to discuss issues related to public policy in the field of the Internet. However, the last forum in Baku did not meet these criteria.
IRFS and other human rights groups were not allowed to hold a seminar in the framework of the forum and submit a themed booth .
Moreover, on December 4, Natig Adilov, an employee of the newspaper "Azadlig", was summoned to the General Directorate of Police in Baku , where he was given a warning for his activity in the media and social networking site Facebook.
IRFS reported growth of violations of freedom of expression in Azerbaijan after the November 2012 Global Internet Governance .
In particular, limits of criminal liability for defamation and on-line expression was extended after the forum. In addition, the increased persecution of journalists and activists , launched a campaign of vilification of human rights defenders in the media.
Abdul Abilov, an activist on the Facebook, administrator page "Stop sycophants " was arrested on November 22 , and indicted under Article 234.4.3 ( illegal drug trade ) . He faces up to 12 years in prison .
This is an indication how the alarming situation in Azerbaijan is regarding freedom of expression and what measures the government is ready to resort to in order to suppress critical voices on the Internet , said the director of IRFS .
IRFS urged authorities to stop the repression and to respect freedom of expression.
At the same time IRFS calls on the Council of Europe and the OSCE to take a tough stance toward violations of freedom of expression and freedom of the Internet and increase pressure on the authorities to fulfill their international obligations. -06D-
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