"When fathers pick up their children from school, Fatima looks with such longing"

In the midst of Azerbaijan's political landscape, families of individuals deemed political prisoners reveal heart-wrenching tales of how their children bear the brunt of psychological trauma due to their parents' incarcerations.

Faig Amirli, an Assistant to the Chairman of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), was arrested in 2016 under charges of "Gulenism" and tax evasion. His wife Lala Amirli shared with Radio Azadlig that their daughters, aged 2.5 and 4 when he was arrested, keenly missed their father's presence. Lala explained that the arrest disrupted their lives and left the girls questioning the absence of their father.

Agil Maharram, another PFPA member, faced a similar ordeal. He was arrested in 2018 on charges of "money laundering" when his twin daughters were just 4 months old. His incarceration had a significant impact on his children, who struggled to comprehend his absence. According to Maharram, his daughters believed that prison was his workplace.

Additionally, Gulmira Aslanova, whose journalist husband Polad Aslanov was imprisoned in 2019, recounted the distressing experience of being arrested alongside her young daughter, Fatima. The family endured an emotionally charged ordeal that left their child with significant psychological scars.

The impact of such arrests on children's well-being is substantial. In many instances, the children were unable to meet their parents for extended periods, and even when meetings occurred, they were often constrained by glass barriers. The arrest of their fathers had a profound effect on their emotional states, causing them to suffer from disrupted sleep patterns, speech difficulties, and weight loss.

Experts and psychologists have raised concerns over the psychological well-being of these children, advocating for the protection of their emotional stability. Some human rights advocates estimate that there are around 200 political prisoners in Azerbaijan, yet government officials refute these claims, asserting that individuals on such lists have faced legal consequences for their actions rather than being imprisoned for political reasons.

Psychologist Azad Isazade, in a comment for Radio Azadlig, noted  the significant impact of home searches on children, emphasizing the trauma caused by the disruption of their personal space and routine. As families struggle with the consequences of political arrests, the well-being of children is emerging as a critical concern, highlighting the profound and lasting impact of such situations on the youngest victims.