Support Adnan and Emin

Amnesty International calls for an online action for Adnan Hajizadeh and Emin Milli.

People simply have to click here and to fill in the form in order to send an e-mail to the main Azerbaijani authorities.

By taking this action, the sender asks for a fair hearing for Adnan and Emin.

Let it be reminded that the bloggers lodged an appeal against the Sabail Court's decision which convicted them to 2 years (Adnan) and 2 years and a half (Emin). Their trial is scheduled for December 22.

Hier soir, 8 décembre 2009, Ilham Aliev, Président de l'Azerbaïdjan, est arrivé à Paris pour une visite officielle de deux jours.

L'APA - Azerbaijan Press Agency - a indiqué que le Président rencontrerait Nicolas Sarkozy, Bernard Kouchner, les Présidents de l'Assemblée Nationale et du Sénat.

Si Aliev a bien rencontré les autorités françaises, aucune conférence de presse, sauf erreur de notre part, ne s'est tenue.

Aliev n'est bien sûr pas venu pour parler de droits de l'homme.

Le Président azerbaïdjanais est en France principalement pour la signature d'accords pétroliers.

Tandis qu'à Paris, Aliev ne prononçait pas un mot au sujet d'Adnan Hadjizadeh et Emin Milli, à Bakou, ironiquement, on annonçait que le procès en appel était fixé au 22 décembre prochain.

Rappelons qu'Ilham Aliev n'a jamais répondu officiellement et personnellement à la moindre question sur Adnan Hadjizadeh et Emin Milli, videobloggers condamnés respectivement à deux ans et deux ans et demi d'emprisonnement.

C'est pourquoi, nous appelons les journalistes à tenter de rencontrer Aliev et d'évoquer le cas des jeunes activistes Adnan et Emin.

Radio France International (RFI) a consacré son "grand reportage" au cas d'Adnan et Emin.

Le reportage audio, très bon et complet, peut être écouté ici

Rappelons que les deux jeunes activistes, Adnan et Emin, ont été agressés et arrêtés le 8 juillet puis condamnés le 11 novembre dernier à respectivement deux ans et deux ans et demi d'emprisonnement.

Le reportage RFI (18 min) aborde à travers le cas d'Adnan et Emin les problèmes rencontrés par la jeunesse azerbaïdjanaise et l'enlisement de l'Azerbaïdjan dans une attitude d'abnégation de la démocratie et d'oppression à l'égard des libres penseurs.

Corruption et autoritarisme sont le quotidien des azerbaïdjanais.

Un groupe de jeunes tente de combattre pacifiquement ces fléaux par un usage citoyen des réseaux sociaux mais, devenus populaires, ils représentent un danger pour le pouvoir qui entend durcir son attitude à l'égard de tout embryon de démocratie..

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.

Sentenced... Adnan and Emin are sentenced to two years of imprisonment.. A nightmare? Yes, definitely. Have we lost? NO!

Did you really think that locking Adnan and Emin would be enough to prevent them to express their ideas?.. And you called us naive people!?! Adnan and Emin can't be silent and, because of their higher vision of life and society, they will be heard... Behind bars but still talking to us!

On November 11, 2009, a pathetic so-called "judge" convicted Adnan and Emin for "hooliganism" and "violences" whereas everybody knows their crime simply consisted in speaking honestly and criticizing an authoritarian government.

"Hooliganism" in Azerbaijan means to use the fundamental right to free speech and specially by blogging, posting video on youtube and using network.. So here we are: our friends are in jail but, thanks to the new AdnanEmin's blog, they will send us letters and talk to us about their feelings, their thoughts. Thus, they will stay close to us.

Yes, if we read this blog, we make them free.

In fact, by sending us letters, they are helping us to help them.

So let's read them, let's support them and never give up!

The blog already posted Emin's first letter but I won't quote it here, go on their prison diary's homepage and read Emin's declaration of moral victory...

I can tell you the first beautiful sentence "Our Vision prevails their fear…"

*this picture is IRSF copyright!

From Dr.Leyla Yunus
Director of Institute of Peace and Democracy (Azerbaijan)


WORLDWIDE FOLLOWED-UP LEGAL TRIAL

Experts with the Institute of Peace and Democracy on the Trial of Bloggers Adnan Hajizade and Emin Abdullayev

The trial on a charge of Adnan Hajizade and Emin Abdullayev under Article 221 the Criminal Code of AR (hooliganism) began on September 04, 2009 in Sabail District Court chaired by Araz Huseynov.
During past 36 working days beginning from September 04 Araz Huseynov held only eight (!) court hearings ( on September 04, 16, 18, 29 and October 01, 07, 09 and 13). The hearings were mostly held in the second half of the day lasting for 3-4 hours at most. Deliberately dragging out the court trials Araz Huseynov repeatedly violated Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms – “the right to a fair and public hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial tribunal established by law”.

The following facts strictly points to the violation of the right to a fair hearing by Araz Huseynov:

1. ALL of the petitions filed by trial lawyers of the accused on September 04 demanding: 1) a hearing in a large room taken a considerable public interest in the case; 2) a discontinuance of the criminal prosecution of the arrested and remit the case to the Prosecutor’s Office for further inquiry in view of gross violations in the course of the prejudicial inquiry by Ziya Aliyev, an investigator with Police Department of Sabail District of Baku, and Shirkhan Adigezalov, a district Prosecutor; 3) arrested Adnan Hajizade also filed a petition for discontinuance of the action and testified that his rights during the arrest and the investigation were violated. For example, he was not allowed to get in touch with his trial lawyer; 4) change of the measure of restraint for the arrested and release on bail

were rejected by Judge Araz Huseynov.

2. The court accepted the list of witnesses for the prosecution, but did not accept the whole list of defense witnesses, thus putting the prosecution and defense in the unequal position.

Out of the list of witnesses for the defense, the court agreed to interrogate only one – Rashadat Akhundov. The rest of them were never heard by the court. So, Araz Huseynov once more demonstrated the violation of the right to a fair hearing.

Meantime the materials of the trial showed the lack of professionalism (or falsification) in the materials of the preliminary inquiry.

So, according to the version of Ziya Aliyev, a senior investigator with Police Department of Sabail District, the police had detained Emin Abdullayev and Adnan Hajizade in the restaurant “Lebanez” and took them as suspected in hooliganism in a police car to Police Station No. 9 of Sabail District. Later on Emin Abdullayev and Adnan Hajizade were arrested. However, testimonies of both the injured and witnesses did not match this version of the investigation:

1. On September 16 the testimony of injured Vusal Mammedov and Babek Huseynov revealed evident contradictions. Vusal Mammedov asserted that during the incident in the ‘Lebanez” restaurant on July 08 he had been beaten by some people, but Babek Huseynov clearly stated that he had been beaten by Adnan, and Mammedov had been beaten by Emin. But the injured party confused the scene of the fight. The first one said that the fight had taken place near their table, but Huseynov assured that it had taken place near the table of the accused.

2. On September 18 and 29, 2009 the witnesses for prosecution also muddled up in their testimony:

- One of the witnesses being an officer with Police Station No. 9 of Sabail District asserted that they had arrested Adnan and Emin in the restaurant where the fight took place. After this the defense adduced evidence that the police had not arrested them, but they themselves had applied to the police for help not in the restaurant but they themselves had come to the police. They, at first, went to Police Station No. 39 where they were told that the territory of the restaurant was attached to Police Station No 9. Instead of providing help there they were arrested. The defense produced photos showing Adnan and Emin standing near the Police Station.

- Sahid Dashdamirov, a witness-officer with the patrol police, stated that he had been on duty in the vicinity of the “Lebanez” restaurant when their squad was passing by. They were called up by a parking lot guard who told them about the fight. The police car took the accused and one young man to the police station. According to the police officer, Adnan’s nose was bleeding, and Emin’s leg was cut. Dashdamirov said that there had been no other injured.

- Witness-police officer Bashir Bashirov stated that there had been no other injured in the restaurant except for the accused.

-Witness-police officer Eldar Gasimov stated that he confirmed his testimony given at the preliminary inquiry. At that he failed to provide a meaningful answer to the question – why the police did not give medical help to Adnan and Emin.

- Witness Parviz Atayev, who had been in the restaurant with Abdullayev and Hajizade, said, “We were discussing the problems of youth education. Suddenly Vusal came up to Emin rudely saying, “What are you saying?”, and Babek Huseynov used bad language. Then Vusal hit Emin with his head and Adnan with his fist. Babek also turned over the table with his leg”. Atayev went out into the street to call up the police but found none. Then Adnan and Emin set off for the nearest Police Station No. 39 . There they were advised to apply to Police Station No. 9. “When I came to Police Station No. 9, Babek was already there”, the witness said. Another withness Orkhan Gafarly, who had also been together with Emin and Adnan that day, almost reiterated Atayev’s words. Both of the young men gave a negative reply to the question of lawyer Elton Guliyev whether the accused had resisted the assailants.

During the hearing on October 01 the lawyers of the accused produced the photos testifying that the version of the investigation, testimony of the injured party and witnesses of the prosecution did not correspond to the facts.

This legal trial chaired by Araz Huseynov strikingly indicates the dependence of the judicial system on the executive power and the use of trials for political pressure on dissidents and repressions, particularly against freedom of speech, thought and self-expression.


Dr.Leyla Yunus
Director of Institute of Peace and Democracy
Website: www.tt-ipd.org

What happened this night?

Did you hear this whisper?

Did you hear this song of Freedom?

Emin was physically in a prison in Baku but he celebrated his birthday all around the world!

Baku is sometimes called the city of winds... Well yesterday, wind was blowing. It was a gust of wind that inspired us in Baku, in Istanbul, in Moscow, in Essex, in London, in Paris, in Strasbourg, in Budapest, in New York etc.

Emin was in prison but he was also in the voice of a Georgian singer in Budapest, in the heart of an Azerbaijani student in Essex, in the soul of a French girl in Strasbourg, in the veins of a young blogger in Baku, singing with his friends in Istanbul and drinking in an English pub...

Freedom and solidarity were everywhere.

Thank you Emin! Thank you people for celebrating in so many countries!

Happy birthday to us!

On July 8th, 2009 Emin Abdullayev (Milli) and Adnan Hajizada were beaten up and later given two months of pre-trial detention. 

It has been more than 95 days but Milli and Hajizade are still in prison and the trial has turned into an endless line of processes, bad actors and fake proofs.

On the 98th day of his detention, on Octobet 14th, Emin is going to turn 30. 

Friends of Emin Milli, have a tradition of celebrating his birthday even if he cannot participate.

Last year, it was Global Emotional Warming'08 - Emin was in New York and his friends were celebrating in Baku. 

This year, Emin Milli's friends decided to celebrate Emin's birthday all around the world.

Thus, they will celebrate in New York, Houston, London, Baku, Paris, Strasbourg, Budapest, Basel etc.

Everybody is invited to celebrate the birth of Emin Milli, on October 14th, and to make of this day a symbol for Freedom, Democracy and Peace.

Joining this party means that we struggle in order to promote democracy and to implement respect of human rights.

The way towards freedom is long and difficult but we must not give up. There is no possibility of being neutral. By being silent, you tolerate the behaviour of people using violence and judicial harassment to keep power.

Emin is detained because of his actions intending to improve Azerbaijanies' condition.

As a friend said:

"His philosophy and lifestyle is about unity and networking.

He has always been the one to inspire and support us. 

We will always be the ones to stand by him.

Happy birthday, Emin!"

On October 14th, wherever you are, join us:

STRASBOURG
place: Le Jimmy's Bar, 30, Quai des Bateliers
Time: 21:00

LONDON
place: http://www.doggettscoatandbadge.co.uk/
Time: 18:30

PARIS
place: "Tenessee bar" (Jazz bar) Boulevard Saint Germain, 7th arrondisement, metro Odeon
Time: 19:00

BAKU
Place: Youth Center, Alovsat Guliyev st, 71 (close to Central Univermag or MUM) 
Time: 19.30

BUDAPEST
Place: CEU Residence, Bambus Bar

NEW YORK
Place:
(1) Columbia University campus, Low Memorial Library (http://www.columbia.edu/acis/tour/low/content.html); 
(2) Brooklyn, Kings Highway; 
(3) Times Square (42nd and 7th Avenue); 
(4) 419 West 119th Street (Emin's home turned into his museum). 

BASEL: we do not know yet the exact place but a party will be organised and we will let you know ASAP

On October 15th, a party is also organised in HOUSTON: Cafe Europe, Houston TX

Lors d'une conférence de presse, Hikmet Hajizadeh, le père d'Adnan, a remercié la jeunesse azerbaïdjanaise pour ses actions.

Il a souligné la situation préoccupante des droits de l'homme en Azerbaïdjan et relevé que, grâce à ses initiatives, le mouvement de la jeunesse a montré qu' il y avait, en Azerbaïdjan, des blogueurs capables d'écrire, de dessiner des caricatures et de tourner des films.

M. Hajizadeh a notamment déclaré que "les blogueurs ont changé l'image de l'Azerbaïdjan". (ci-dessous la vidéo de la conférence de presse en Azerbaïdjanais)

Adnan Hajizadeh et Emin Milli sont en détention provisoire depuis 96 jours.

Le procès est en cours mais les audiences ne cessent d'être reportées. Les juges ne siègent que trois heures par jour les mardi et vendredi.

La prochaine audience a lieu demain, mardi 13 novembre 2009, à 15 heures au Tribunal de Sabayil à Bakou.

Lors de la dernière audience, les deux prévenus ont été entendus. Ils ont rappelé avoir été agressés et s'être rendus volontairement au commissariat afin de porter plainte pour coups et blessures. Toutefois, à leur grande surprise, ils ont été accusés de "houliganisme".

Leurs avocats ont pourtant produits des photographies faisant clairement état des nombreuses ecchymoses et blessures que présentaient Adnan Hajizadeh et Emin Milli à la suite de leur agression. Adnan Hajizadeh a par ailleurs souligné le fait que l'expert entendu à la barre dressait un rapport médical alors qu'il ne l'avait jamais examiné. Le jeune homme qui avait eu le nez cassé lors de l'agression, a également précisé éprouver, aujourd'hui encore, des problèmes de respiration.

Interrogé sur les faits, Adnan Hajizadeh a déclaré : "j'ai toujours combattu la corruption et l'illégalité et c'est pour cette raison que j'ai été battu et arrêté."

Emin Milli a confirmé les dires d'Adnan. La dernière audience ayant eu lieu le 9 novembre, Emin s'est félicité de la chute du mur de Berlin. Le juge a toutefois coupé son intervention et lui a demandé d'en revenir aux faits.

Le 14 novembre, Emin Milli aura 30 ans. A cette occasion, ses amis ont tenu à célébrer son anniversaire dans le monde entier. Des fêtes sont notamment organisées à Bakou, Paris, Strasbourg, Bâle et Londres.

A Paris, la fête aura lieu au Tennessee Bar, boulevard Saint Germain (Paris 7ème, métro Odeon) à 19 heures.

A Strasbourg, la réunion a lieu au Jimmy's Bar, quai des bateliers, à 21 heures.

Joignez-vous à nous et faisons de l'anniversaire d'Emin Milli un jour symbole de paix, de liberté et de justice.