Mehman Huseynov - Political Prisoner

Activists of the civil society discussed measures to protect the rights of the head of the Institute of Reporters Freedom and Safety (IRFS), a popular blogger Mehman Huseynov, arrested on March 3.

 The event attended by representatives of the media, NGOs and political organizations was held at the headquarters of the Civil Solidarity Party.

 The purpose of the meeting was to investigate the reasons for Huseynov's arrest, as well as the organization of protection of his rights in the country and internationally.

Huseynov was sentenced to 2 years in prison for defamation on the basis of a claim by the chief of Nasimi District Police Department Musa Musayev. The plaintiff saw defamation in the blogger's statements that he was tortured in the Nasimi police after being detained on 9 January. Despite the submission by the defense of evidence of torture in the form of photographs with traces of violence on the blogger's body and clothes stained with Huseynov's blood, the prosecutor's office refused to initiate criminal proceedings. As a result, the blogger subjected to torture was sentenced to imprisonment.

The lawyer Elchin Sadigov said the trial was held with gross violations of the law, not respecting the elementary rules of procedure, not giving time to the defense to prepare for the final speech, and rejecting all the applications.

 The lawyer Nemat Kerimlli also called the arrest unjustified and pointed to the gross violation of rights of the defense.

 An expert in the field of media rights Khalid Agaliyev pointed to the illegality of the court decision. He drew attention to the fact that the defense appealed the prosecutor's decision to refuse the beginning of a criminal case in connection with the facts of torture.

While this complaint is not investigated in the courts, the lawsuit against Huseynov could not be considered, for theoretically the complaint of the prosecutor's office can be satisfied and the fact of torture can be confirmed. Then it will turn out that the court in Surakhani condemned the blogger in vain.

Agaliyev called to hear the case against Huseynov in the general context of pressure on Internet media. For example, in regions of the country arrests of leaders of local online media are increasingly carried out.

The speakers noted that the blogger's arrest attracted great international attention and this matter will cause a new wave of criticism of Azerbaijan for violating human rights.

An expert in law, Khalid Bagirov drew attention to the fact that the arrest of the blogger is contrary to the provisions of the Executive Order on the humanization of punishment, which included no appointment of prison sentences for less serious crimes. Huseynov's case became a strong indication of the simulation of legal reforms by the authorities.

Representatives of political parties noted the customized nature of this criminal case, which is related to Huseynov's activities as a human rights defender and blogger.

By all accounts, Huseynov joined the ranks of political prisoners, whose number exceeds 160.

The idea of ​​creating a public committee to protect Huseynov's rights was approved, and proposals were put forward for the organization of protests against the blogger's arrest, including in the form of mass actions.

There were also suggestions for a campaign in order to suspend Azerbaijan's right to vote in PACE.    -05C06--