![\"Rasim](\"https:\/\/covcasbulletin-info.hhd.am\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Covcas-Rasim-Aliyev.jpg\")
<\/a>Rasim Aliyev (31), an Azerbaijani independent journalist who was attacked and beaten by supporters of a local soccer player in retaliation for criticism posted on a Facebook page, has died of his injuries in a Baku hospital on Sunday (August 9).<\/p>\n
The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) are deeply saddened by his death. \u201cThe climate of impunity for violent acts against journalists and human rights defenders in Azerbaijan may encourage some individuals to commit such grave crimes without being punished. Journalists, like every citizen, in Azerbaijan must be free to share their personal comments on social networks without fear of receiving threats from anybody. The country must also stop its permanent prosecution against journalists and release all of them in order to decrease the current tensions,\u201d said Mogens Blicher Bjerreg\u00e5rd, EFJ President.<\/p>\n
After the beating and while in the hospital on August 8, Rasim Aliyev gave an interview to Meydan TV<\/a>. He said everything started when he criticized the football player Cavid Huseynov for his behavior after his Azerbaijani club team, Qabala FK, played the Cypriot club Apollon in Cyprus in a UEFA Europa League match on July 30. Journalist Aliyev wrote on his Facebook page that he did not want \u201csomeone this amoral, impertinent, and unable to control himself to represent me on European soccer fields.\u201d Following his comment, the journalist received a call from someone claiming to be Huseynov\u2019s cousin, who yelled and swore at him on the phone before inviting him to present his apologies.<\/p>\n After getting out of his car to shake hands, the journalist said he was suddenly attacked from behind and knocked to the ground, kicked and beaten by six men for about 40 seconds. The perpetrators took his phone and wallet and ran away in different directions.<\/p>\n The authorities said \u201ca criminal case was launched into the incident and an investigation is underway\u201d.<\/p>\n Rasim Aliyev was a freelance journalist working for Ann.az website and used to work for the Institute for Reporters\u2019 Freedom and Safety, one of Azerbaijan\u2019s leading media-freedom organizations until it was forced to shut down last year after its bank account was frozen, office raided, and its director, Emin Huseynov, reportedly harrassed<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n ——————–<\/p>\n \n contact.az<\/em><\/p>\n Journalists Hold Rally in Memory of Their Killed Colleague<\/strong><\/p>\n The journalists covering the trial of Khadija Ismayilova held a rally in front of the Baku Court of Grave Crimes today. They commemorated their counterpart Rasim Aliyev, who died Aug. 9 from injuries as a result of beating.<\/p>\n The action took place in a minute of silence. Speaking at the impromptu rally, the journalists Avaz Zeynalli, Aynur Imranova, Khalig Bahadir, Rovshan Hajiyev and others required to identify and severely punish the masterminds and perpetrators of the murder. However, they expressed doubt that this would be done.<\/p>\n The speakers were unanimous that the murder of the journalist was also triggered by a climate of impunity for non-disclosure of crimes against media representatives.<\/p>\n Recall that Rasim Aliyev, who led the Institute of Reporters Freedom and Safety from the fall of 2014, was beaten by a group of people after criticizing the football player of FC Gabala Javid Huseynov. On August 9 in the morning the reporter died from his injuries. According to unofficial data, in connection with the attack on Aliyev Huseynov\u2019s cousin and a few others have been arrested.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"