Photo TURAN.
Baku/29.07.22/Turan: On Friday, the Baku Serious Crimes Court ended the trial of the murder of reporter and LGBT activist Avaz Shihmamedov (Hafizli).
The court found the accused Amrullu Gyulaliyev guilty under the Article 120.1 (premeditated murder) and sentenced him to 9.5 years in prison. Earlier, the prosecutor asked the court to impose a sentence of 10.5 years in prison. The activists who watched the process considered the verdict mild, inadequate to the nature of the crime committed.
According to feminist and LGBT activist Gulnara Mehdiyeva, there are aggravating circumstances in Gyulalyev's act, but the court considered them "mitigating".
“In particular, after the murder, Gulaliyev turned himself in to the police, repented of his deed, that he committed a crime for the first time, is positively characterized by the place of residence, and also that the brother of the deceased “forgave” him,” she told Turan.
In her opinion, the murder of Hafizli was committed with aggravating circumstances. “Gyulalyev himself admitted during the investigation that he killed Hafiz in a sleeping state. Therefore, the investigation and the court had to qualify the crime under the Artcle 120.2.9, i.e. "murder, of a person in a helpless state". This article provides for punishment in the form of imprisonment from 14 to 20 years, or life imprisonment,” Mehdiyeva said.
In addition, according to the activist, an aggravating circumstance is Gyulalyev’s admission of committing a murder motivated by hatred, that is, because Hafizli belongs to the LGBT community.”
* * Avaz Shihmamedov (Hafizli) was killed on February 22 this year by his cousin Amrulla Gyulaliyev. Hafizli said that Avaz “disgraced the family”, that Hafisli repeatedly demanded that Avaz “renounce” non-traditional sexual orientation, but in vain.
Hafizli was a reporter and covered protests, including against the bullying of the LGBTI+ community. He was subjected to open threats and held solo actions demanding that those responsible for bullying be punished. -06B-
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