Thursday, September 02, 2010

Azerbaijan bloggers trial ajourned - again

Written by David Brewer
Share/Save/Bookmark

Two Azerbaijani bloggers, who have spent four months in pre-trial detention, have been told their next hearing will be 11 November. The trial of Adnan Hajizade and Emin Abdullayev (also known as Milli) was adjourned ten days ago after a brief appearance by the two on hooliganism and violence charges. Supporters are claiming the delay in the trial is a human rights violation.

 

At first, Hajizade and Abdullayev were to be held in pre-trial detention for two months. Since then they have been called before the court on several occasions only for the trial to be adjourned because of problems with witnesses.

Those campaigning for the release of the two men suspect that there may be political reasons behind the delays.

Hajizade and Abdullayev were arrested following an incident in a Baku restaurant in July.

Since their imprisonment, another charge of "intentional physical violence" was added by the prosecution.

It's understood this extra charge (revealed by the father of one of the bloggers at a news conference in August) could add five years to their sentences if they are found guilty.

Media freedom groups have been protesting about the arrests and detention and claim it is part of an effort to limit freedom of expression.

Freedom House said the case reflects "a disturbing pattern" where legal action is taken against those expressing themselves.

Reporters Without Borders says the case violates all the norms of European law to which Azerbaijan is subject.

"Their arrest and probable condemnation is being driven by political motives and a desire to censor."

IFEX, the International Freedom of Expression Exchange, said the charges were political and should be dropped.

"Staging provocations has become a favored method to silence independent voices in Azerbaijan."

Adnan Hajizadeh is one of the founders of OL! Youth Movement which has a Facebook site. The group also tweets @olmedia and has a YouTube site where it updates videos of the campaign to free the two.

Emin Abdullayev helped set up the Alumni Network (AN). Supporters of the two have set up an online video petition where people can post video messages calling for their release.


blog comments powered by Disqus
Move
-

Featured Section: Editorial Ethics

Top Headline

Is your journalism ethical? Take the test

If the content you produce...

Read More...

Editorial ethics for photojournalists

This site has produced...

Read More...

Introduction to editorial ethics section

The MHM media ethics section...

Read More...

Training resources

  • 1
  • 2

MHM Feeds

Translate this site

Arabic Chinese (Simplified) Russian Serbian Spanish Vietnamese

MHM Tweets

Reproducing content

MHM Login