Journalist Ayten Mammadova, attacked, rejects advice to 'wise up'

Baku/11.05.22/Turan: Journalist Ayten Mammadova, attacked by an unknown man, disseminated a statement to Meta at about 11:45 p.m. on May 8. She reports that after the knife violence, with threats against her 12-year-old daughter, she is unable to sleep for more than two hours at night due to the stress she has experienced.

Over the past two days, Mammadova has been repeatedly to the Baku city and Binagadi district police departments. She testified there and at other departments. The next day after the incident, she went in the morning to the forensic medical examination, but it turned out that they were closed on May 9, a holiday. The next day the experts did not examine her again because they stopped working at 3pm, and Mammadova was giving evidence at police departments until 3pm that day.

At the Binagadi police department a criminal case was initiated under Article 134 of the Criminal Code on threatening violence or murder probability. 

The journalist stated that she had no personal conflicts with anyone that could cause violence against her and her daughter. She reiterates her belief that the attack in the lift was related to her professional activities. Mamedova also insists that she does not accept advice to "wise up" and will continue to perform her professional duty.

Mamedova has so far refrained from evaluating the work of law enforcement agencies believing that there is no reason to unequivocally thank or criticise them because the perpetrator has not been caught and there are no particular facts to be dissatisfied with.

"But there are grounds for dissatisfaction, which I will tell you about later," the journalist warned.

Note that Azerbaijani and international organizations, as well as representatives of other countries have condemned the violence against Mammadova.

"This attack took place in Baku just a week after the world celebrated the World Press Freedom Day and emphasized the importance of freedom of speech and access to accurate information. We are following this case closely and calling on the authorities to investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice," said the US State Department spokesperson.

The Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC) condemned the attack on journalist Ayten Mammadova in Azerbaijan, calling on authorities to thoroughly investigate the crime and protect independent journalists from prosecution.

The international human rights watchdog Human Rights Watch also expressed alarm about the attack on the journalist.

On 14 May, at 3 p.m., journalists will hold a rally on Fountain Square in Baku, demanding an urgent investigation to identify the perpetrators of the attack on Ayten Mammadova.-0-