27 October 2008

Alert

Detained journalist harassed in prison


Incident details

Eynulla Fatullayev

journalist(s)

harassed
(IRFS/IFEX) - The Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS) is concerned about the pressure being placed on the imprisoned editor-in-chief of the "Gundalik Azerbayjan" and "Realny Azerbayjan" newspapers, Eynulla Fatullayev, and his placement in a punishment cell.

During a press conference conducted on 22 October 2008 Fataullyev's father, Emin Fatullayev, said, "In the prison on October 1, an incident occurred between Eynulla and another prisoner. The prisoner approached him and said, 'Why are you looking at me like that?' Eynulla did not want to argue and distanced himself from the prisoner. Even though Eynulla avoided an argument, both Eynulla and the other prisoner were put in a punishment cell. Eynulla was kept unjustly in the punishment cell for three days after this. A doctor from Prison #12 told me that the prisoner involved in this incident is mentally ill. At the same time, the doctor said that the prisoner is from the same location as the prison operations department chief, Karam Shirinov. According to the information I have, Chief Shirinov always uses people who are mentally ill or of a sexual minority for provocation."

IRFS believes that these types of incidents against Fatullayev are being intentionally caused. After it was announced at the end of September that the European Court of Human Rights accepted Fatullayev's case for consideration, harassment against the imprisoned journalist became more regular. Even after Fatullayev was released from the punishment cell in October, he was so concerned that some sort of provocation would be committed against him that he called home on 14 October and he would not cast a vote in the presidential election held on 15 October.

IRFS notes that the government will be held responsible for any actions against Eyunlla Fatullayev, especially while the journalist is in prison. International human rights organisations recognize Fatullayev as a political prisoner, and he has also been declared a prisoner of conscience. Local and international organisations alike have called the charges that Fatullayev was imprisoned on (terror, incitement of ethnic and racial hatred, defamation) trumped up, and say that the real reason for his arrest is the articles he has written.

IRFS demands an investigation into the reasons why the mentally ill person who tried to provoke Fatullayev is being kept in prison. The organisation also calls for disciplinary measures to be taken against the people responsible for wrongfully placing Fatullayev in the punishment cell and for all four of Azerbaijan's wrongfully imprisoned journalists to be immediately released. At the same time, IRFS calls on the international community to closely follow this situation and to encourage Azerbaijan's government to fulfill the demands stated above.

Updates the Fatullayev case: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/94265



Source:

Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety
8 R. Behbudov St., Apt. 85/86
Baku
Azerbaijan
irfs.az (@) gmail.com
Phone: +99 412 418 0334/+99 450 398 4838
 

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More on this case

Journalist Eynulla Fatullayev granted amnesty in honour of 28 May holiday 27 May 2011 Joint appeal to UNESCO director-general over Fatullayev case 4 May 2011 Government claims to have complied with ECHR judgment on Fatullayev case 4 May 2011 "Fifty Fatullayevs" outside London Embassy demand release of jailed Azerbaijani journalist 19 April 2011 Family of imprisoned journalist receives threatening phone call 13 April 2011 CPJ concerned about Fatullayev's safety, calls for his release 23 March 2011 Council of Europe Committee of Ministers must demand journalist's release, says International Partnership Group for Azerbaijan 2 March 2011 Fatullayev fears for his safety in prison 11 February 2011 Baku Appeals Court denies Fatullayev's appeal, defies ECHR ruling 3 February 2011 Supreme Court rejects imprisoned editor's appeal 3 January 2011 Council of Europe Committee calls on government to release Eynulla Fatullayev 8 December 2010 Fatullayev's fate lies with the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, says ARTICLE 19 6 December 2010 Editor Eynulla Fatullayev remains jailed despite ECHR call for his release 12 November 2010 In latest humiliation, newspaper editor appears in court inside cage 8 November 2010 Send a letter in support of jailed editor 29 October 2010 Joint letter calls for newspaper editor's release 28 October 2010 ECHR upholds decision on release of Eynulla Fatullayev 21 October 2010 Authorities say imprisoned journalist will not be freed regardless of appeal outcome 22 July 2010 Imprisoned editor sentenced to an additional two and a half years in prison 7 July 2010 IRFS appeals to president as imprisoned editor starts hunger strike 7 June 2010 Comply with European Court decision on case of imprisoned journalist, ARTICLE 19, International PEN urge 19 May 2010 Authorities urged to comply with ECHR order and release editor Eynulla Fatullayev 23 April 2010 European Court of Human Rights orders journalist's release 23 April 2010 Eynulla Fatullayev's appeal rejected 18 March 2010 Eynulla Fatullayev and family threatened 18 March 2010 Imprisoned editor concerned over possible threat to his life 3 March 2010 Editor's detention prolonged by two more months 1 March 2010 CPJ delegation calls for Eynulla Fatullayev's release 22 January 2010 Editor to be tried on new charge, sentenced to two months' detention in isolation unit 6 January 2010 Authorities trump up new charge against award-winning editor Eynulla Fatullayev 31 December 2009 Supreme Court upholds editor's conviction 4 June 2008 Imprisoned editor starts hunger strike to protest jailing of journalists 26 March 2008 Appeals court upholds conviction of critical editor 17 January 2008 Outspoken editor Eynulla Fatullayev sentenced to eight and a half years in prison 30 October 2007 Supreme Court upholds editor's prison sentence 27 August 2007 New terrorism charge brought against opposition editor already serving 30-month sentence for defamation 6 July 2007 Imprisoned editor Eynulla Fatullayev receives death threats, inhumane treatment; his conviction confirmed 8 June 2007 Fifteen journalists seek political asylum in protest against closure of newspapers 29 May 2007 Imprisoned editor Eynulla Fatullayev charged with terrorism; his home searched, his newspaper's computers, documents confiscated 24 May 2007 Imprisoned editor target of death threat; two newspapers evicted amid media harassment campaign 22 May 2007 Editor of critical newspaper brutally beaten after protesting conviction of colleague 24 April 2007 Embattled editor jailed for libel and insult over article he denies writing 23 April 2007

Azerbaijan

Newspapers fined for "damaging honour" of businessman 24 January 2012 Youth activist's appeal rejected 29 December 2011 Jabbar Savalanli released under pardon decree 29 December 2011 Journalists assaulted while covering president's birthday celebration 29 December 2011 Editor of "Yeni Musavat" receives death threats for republishing article 22 December 2011 See all alerts: Azerbaijan


 
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