AZERBAIJAN: Human rights defenders call on Azeri govenment to respect freedom of speech

Record ID: 218086

  • Title: AZERBAIJAN: Human rights defenders call on Azeri govenment to respect freedom of speech
  • Date: 27th October 2010
  • Summary: BAKU, AZERBAIJAN (OCTOBER 26, 2010) (REUTERS) VIEW OF BAKU CITY AND SEAPORT NATIONAL FLAG OF AZERBAIJAN WITH TV TOWER IN BACKGROUND CARS ON STREET / VIEW OF INDEPENDENT AZERBAIJAN MEDIA CENTRE OFFICE VARIOUS OF NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA FOR HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH RACHEL DENBER SPEAKING VARIOUS OF HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH BROCHURE O
  • Embargoed: 11th November 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Azerbaijan
  • Country: Azerbaijan
  • Topics: International Relations,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA4FR95E85AXLR59EIWL4PAJ9NT
  • Story Text: Leading human rights campaigners and journalists said on Tuesday (October 26) democratic freedoms are shrinking under the rule of Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, and the United States, in particular, hasn't complained.
    Human Rights Watch released a report titles "Beaten, Blacklisted and Behind Bars" Tuesday, ahead of parliamentary elections in the oil-rich nation, which furnishes energy to Europe and serves as a key supply route for U.S. soldiers and supplies headed to Afghanistan.
    HRW's Deputy Director of the Europe and Central Asia Division, Rachel Denbar accused Azerbaijan of concerted efforts to silence dissent while cushioned from criticism by its strategic importance to the West.
    "There's been just a steady deterioration in media freedoms, a steady closing of the space," Denber said. "Journalists see their colleagues getting thrown in prison and it has a chilling effect."
    The report cited the prosecution and imprisonment of dozens of journalists and physical attacks by police, saying criminal and defamation laws are often used to silence non-violent criticism and opposition views.
    It noted the high-profile jailing of outspoken journalist Eynulla Fatullayev, held since 2007 despite a European Court of Human Rights ruling in April this year criticising his trial and requesting his release. It also cited the imprisonment in late 2009 on hooliganism charges of two satirical bloggers, Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli, in a case that has drawn widespread condemnation.
    Denbar called on the U.S. to take a stronger stand.
    "I think that we need to have a more consistent, across-the-board response
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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