Support Adnan and Emin

Today Amnesty International called on an Urgent Action for Adnan and Emin. You can find here the Amnesty International's appeal:

URGENT ACTION: BLOGGERS IMPRISONED AFTER UNFAIR TRIAL

Two male Azerbaijani youth activists and bloggers Emin Abdullayev (aged 30) and Adnan Hajizade (aged 26) have been sentenced to two and a half years and two years respectively in an unfair trial. Amnesty International believes the charges against them were fabricated and they have been imprisoned solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression.

On 28 June, a satirical video made by Adnan Hajizade criticizing the Azerbaijani government was posted on the video-sharing website YouTube. On 8 July, Adnan Hajizade and Emin Abdullayev (who blogs under the name Emin Milli) were approached by two men as they were dining with friends in a restaurant in the capital Baku. The men demanded to know what they were talking about. When Emin Abdullayev replied that it did not concern the two men, one of the men head-butted him and he fell to the floor. The same man then struck Adnan Hajizade, knocking him to the ground, and continued to kick and beat Adnan Hajizade and Emin Abdullayev until restaurant staff intervened.

Adnan Hajizade and Emin Abdullayev immediately went to a local police station to report the incident. However, police officers interrogated them as suspects for five hours, denying them access to a lawyer of their choosing and arrested them on charges of ‘hooliganism’. The activists were remanded in custody pending their trial. They were later also charged with inflicting minor bodily harm.

During their investigation the police and prosecutors failed to interview witnesses and to obtain video evidence from a security camera which may have recorded the incident in the restaurant. They also submitted documents to the court which wrongly stated that Adnan Hajizade was unemployed and that he had a criminal record. According to the activist’s lawyers, at the trial the court refused to consider photographs showing the injuries they sustained in the attack, as well as video evidence from mobile phones and the security camera, but provided no explanation as to why. The two men were convicted and sentenced to two and a half and two years respectively in prison. Emin Abdullayev and Adnan Hajizade intend to appeal against the decision.

PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in English, Azeri, or your own language:

n Calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Adnan Hajizade and Emin Abdullayev;

n Noting that Amnesty International believes them to be prisoners of conscience, detained solely for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression and association.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 28 DECEMBER 2009 TO:

Ilham Aliyev

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Office of the President

19 Istiqlaiyyat St.

AZ1066 Baku, Azerbaijan

Fax: +99412 492 35 43/  492 06 25

Email:   president@president.az

office@apparat.gov.az

Salutation: Dear President

or

Fikrat Mammadov

Minister of Justice

1, Inshaatchylar prospect

Baku AZ1065

Azerbaijan

Fax: +994 12 430 09 81

Email:   contact@justice.gov.az; international@justice.gov.az

Salutation: Your Excellency

or

Prof. Elmira Suleymanova

Ombudsperson
Office of the Ombudsman
40 Uz. Hajibeyov Street
Baku AZ1000,Azerbaijan             

Fax: + 994 12 498 8574

Email: ombudsman@ombudsman.gov.az

Salutation: Dear Ombudperson

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.