Azeri Report
BAKU. August 15, 2014: The Amnesty International reported that the Azerbaijani political prisoners Faraj Karimov and Siraj Karimov are being tortured in the detention center where they are currently held. Faraj Karimov, member of the opposition Musavat party, active blogger and the administrator of the official website of Musavat, was arrested on fabricated drug possession charges on July 23 this year. The police also arrested Faraj’s older brother Siraj, who is not politically active, but whose persecution is linked by the local and international human rights organizations to Fraj’s political activities. The Amnesty International statement calls on the international community to address appeals to the Azerbaijani president and demand the release of the Karimov brothers from jail. Below is the text of the statement by the Amnety International.
URGENT ACTION
KARIMOV BROTHERS TORTURED IN CUSTODY
Azerbaijani political activist Faraj Karimov and his brother Siraj Karimov have complained of torture in detention to make them “confess” to drug-related crimes.
Azerbaijani political activist Faraj Karimov was visited by his lawyer on 2 August after being held incommunicado for 10 days. Faraj Karimov told his lawyer that he had been beaten by police to make him admit to drug-related charges. He was threatened that unless he signed a “confession”, police would “cause problems to his parents” by planting weapons at their house.
Although held on drug-related charges, Faraj Karimov was questioned about his political and social activities. Police asked him about the Facebook groups and pages he manages, which are well-known for their criticism of the Azerbaijani government. He was also asked for information about his fellow activists at the opposition political party Musavat.
His brother, Siraj Karimov, who had been arrested six days earlier, was also allegedly tortured by police. He claims he was pressured to sign a confession to drug-related charges and was asked questions by police about his brother. Siraj Karimov had not been involved in activism himself, but his family have insisted that he was targeted because of his brother’s work.
Amnesty International has documented regular use of trumped-up drug-related charges in Azerbaijan against political activists and their family members, and considers Faraj Karimov and Siraj Karimov prisoners of conscience.
Please write immediately in Azeri, English, Russian or your own language:
Calling on the authorities to release Faraj and Siraj Karimov immediately and unconditionally;
Urging them to ensure the brothers’ safety and freedom from threats, harassment and persecution;
Calling for an immediate, impartial and effective investigation of Faraj and Siraj Karimov’s allegations that they have been tortured and otherwise ill-treated and forced to testify against themselves.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 26 SEPTEMBER 2014 TO:
President
Ilham Aliyev
Office of the President of Azerbaijan
19 Istiqlaliyyat Street
Baku AZ1066, Azerbaijan
Fax: +994 12 492 0625
Email: office@pa.gov.az
Salutation: Dear President Aliyev
Prosecutor General
Zakir Qaralov
7 Rafibeyli Street
Baku AZ1001, Azerbaijan
Fax: +994 12 492 0335
Email: info@prosecutor.gov.az z.qaralov@prosecutor.gov.az
Salutation: Dear Prosecutor General -0-
(Azeri Report)