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Not much time passed after the death of Nowruzali Mamedov, and his successor seems to wait for the same destiny:
Azerbaijan: Mr Hilal Mamedov, editor in chief of Tolishi Sado arrested and charged with possession and distribution of heroin
Mr Hilal Mamedov
Mr Hilal Mamedov was arrested on 21 June and charged for alleged possession of heroin.
Hilal Mamedov is a consultant with the Institute for Democracy and Peace and editor in chief of Tolishi Sado (Talysh Voice), the only newspaper in the Talysh minority language. He was also the head of the Committee for the Defence of Novruzali Mamedov, a prominent Talysh scientist and human rights activist charged in June 2008 with espionage in favour of Iran and subsequently sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment. Novruzali Mamedov died as a result of torture in prison in 2010.
At approximately 10 am on 21 June, Hilal Mamedov left home to visit a relative in hospital. He called home at 11 am and said that he would be home in 30 minutes. He then disappeared. From 2 to 3.30 pm, when relatives tried to call, his mobile phone was answered by an unfamiliar male voice who said that Hilal Mamedov was under medical observation and would return home when the doctor finished examining him. At 4.20 pm his brother called from Moscow. The person who answered the phone informed him that Hilal Mamedov was under arrest, without giving any further explanations. After that, Hilal Mamedov's mobile phone was turned off.
In the evening of 21 June, 20 police officers arrived to the home of Hilal Mamedov in order to carry out a search, following which they claimed they had found heroin. His colleagues believe that this accusation and alleged discovery is completely unfounded, and no evidence was provided for the accusation. One of the policeman reportedly asked Hilal Mamedov's father: “Why was your son defending Talysh people? Did he not know how it can end up?”
Hilal Mamedov's lawyer went to the Nizami Police Department in Baku to see his client, but was denied access and was not provided with case-file details relating to the arrest. However, he was told that the police had found Hilal Mamedov carrying 5 grams of heroin on him and that much more (approx 28g) had been found at his home.
The following day, 22 June, Hilal Mamedov was brought before the Nizami District Court, which authorised a pre-trial detention for a period of three months in order to complete the investigation on possession and distribution of drugs. Art. 234 of the Criminal Code, under which he was charged, carries a penalty of 5 to 12 years of imprisonment. The court rejected the lawyer's application to release Hilal Mamedov, but accepted a complaint of ill treatment, documented in photographs. The complaint was sent to the prosecutor of the Nizami district of Baku. Hilal Mamedov is currently detained in the Shuvalan preliminary investigation prison.
At the time of his arrest in February 2008, prominent Talysh scientist and human rights defender Novruzali Mamedov was also editor of “Talysh Voice” newspaper and head of the Talysh Cultural Centre. He was charged with espionage for Iran, and tortured to death in prison in 2010 (see https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/2129).
Front Line Defenders condemns the prosecution of Halil Mamedov and believes that the charges brought against him are directly linked to his legitimate human rights work. We are extremely concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Hilal Mamedov.
Azerbaijan-Update: Additional charges of high treason and espionage brought against Hilal Mamedov
Mr Hilal Mamedov
On 3 July 2012, Mr Hilal Mamedov, editor-in-chief of Talishi Sado (“Talysh Voice”) newspaper, was charged with high treason and incitement of national, racial or religious hatred.
On the following day, 4 July, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and General Prosecution office made a public statement announcing that Hilal Mamedov has also been charged with espionage on behalf of Iran.
According to the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan, Hilal Mamedov may face imprisonment from ten to fifteen years or life imprisonment under Article 274 for high treason. He may also face three to five years under Article 283.2.2 for incitement of national, racial or religious hatred.
Hilal Mamedov was arrested on 21 June for illegal possession of heroin, a charge which carries five to twelve years in prison. The police reported that they had found 5g of heroin in the pocket of Hilal Mamedov and 28.5g at his residence.
Hilal Mamedov was appointed editor-in-chief of Talishi Sado just 12 days prior to his arrest. The newspaper has not been published since the last editor-in-chief, Novruzali Mamedov, a prominent scientist, who died in prison after having been sentenced for espionage for Iran.
Front Line Defenders expresses concern for the physical and psychological integrity of human rights defender Hilal Mamedov and reiterates its calls for Azerbaijani authorities to drop all the charges against Hilal Mamedov, as it is believed that they are related to his peaceful and legitimate human rights work.
Azerbaijan: UPDATE- Court rejects human rights defender Hilal Mamedov's complaint of ill-treatment
Hilal Mamedo
On 29 August 2012, the Nasimi District Court of Baku denied human rights defender Mr Hilal Mamedov's appeal against a previous court decision rejecting his complaint of ill-treatment in detention.
The hearing was expected to be open to the public; however, Judge Emin Mehdiyev decided that it should be held in camera and moved it to the basement, meaning that the journalists and members of the committee established for the protection of Hilal Mamedov's rights who were present could not attend.
The hearing lasted just 30 minutes, and the court took over three hours to announce a verdict rejecting the complaint. The complaint was based on Hilal Mamedov's claim that he was given no food or water during his first two days in detention. The human rights defender's lawyer also has photographic evidence of leg injuries sustained by Hilal Mamedov in detention.
Hilal Mamedov was arrested on 21 June 2012 and charged with illegal possession of narcotics. On 3 July, he was also charged with “high treason“ and “incitement of national, racial or religious hatred” under Articles 274 and 283.2.2 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan.
Hilal Mamedov is a consultant with the Institute for Democracy and Peace and editor-in-chief of Tolishi Sado (Talysh Voice), the only newspaper in the Talysh minority language. He was also the head of the Committee for the Defence of Novruzali Mamedov, a prominent Talysh scientist and human rights activist charged in June 2008 with espionage and subsequently sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment. Novruzali Mamedov died as a result of torture in prison in 2010.
Front line Defenders condemns the rejection of Hilal Mamedov's complaint and believes that the decision to hold the hearing in camera was taken for the sole reason of denying impartial observers access to the hearing. Front Line Defenders reiterates its call on the Azerbaijani authorities to drop all charges against Hilal Mamedov and to effect his immediate and unconditional release.
For further information on this case, please see the Front Line Defenders urgent appeal, dated 25 June 2012: Mr Hilal Mamedov, editor in chief of Tolishi Sado arrested and charged with possession and distribution of heroin, and the subsequent update, dated 4 July 2012: Additional charges of high treason and espionage brought against Hilal Mamedo.
Azerbaijan: Mr Hilal Mamedov, editor in chief of Tolishi Sado arrested and charged with possession and distribution of heroin
Mr Hilal Mamedov
Mr Hilal Mamedov was arrested on 21 June and charged for alleged possession of heroin.
Hilal Mamedov is a consultant with the Institute for Democracy and Peace and editor in chief of Tolishi Sado (Talysh Voice), the only newspaper in the Talysh minority language. He was also the head of the Committee for the Defence of Novruzali Mamedov, a prominent Talysh scientist and human rights activist charged in June 2008 with espionage in favour of Iran and subsequently sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment. Novruzali Mamedov died as a result of torture in prison in 2010.
At approximately 10 am on 21 June, Hilal Mamedov left home to visit a relative in hospital. He called home at 11 am and said that he would be home in 30 minutes. He then disappeared. From 2 to 3.30 pm, when relatives tried to call, his mobile phone was answered by an unfamiliar male voice who said that Hilal Mamedov was under medical observation and would return home when the doctor finished examining him. At 4.20 pm his brother called from Moscow. The person who answered the phone informed him that Hilal Mamedov was under arrest, without giving any further explanations. After that, Hilal Mamedov's mobile phone was turned off.
In the evening of 21 June, 20 police officers arrived to the home of Hilal Mamedov in order to carry out a search, following which they claimed they had found heroin. His colleagues believe that this accusation and alleged discovery is completely unfounded, and no evidence was provided for the accusation. One of the policeman reportedly asked Hilal Mamedov's father: “Why was your son defending Talysh people? Did he not know how it can end up?”
Hilal Mamedov's lawyer went to the Nizami Police Department in Baku to see his client, but was denied access and was not provided with case-file details relating to the arrest. However, he was told that the police had found Hilal Mamedov carrying 5 grams of heroin on him and that much more (approx 28g) had been found at his home.
The following day, 22 June, Hilal Mamedov was brought before the Nizami District Court, which authorised a pre-trial detention for a period of three months in order to complete the investigation on possession and distribution of drugs. Art. 234 of the Criminal Code, under which he was charged, carries a penalty of 5 to 12 years of imprisonment. The court rejected the lawyer's application to release Hilal Mamedov, but accepted a complaint of ill treatment, documented in photographs. The complaint was sent to the prosecutor of the Nizami district of Baku. Hilal Mamedov is currently detained in the Shuvalan preliminary investigation prison.
At the time of his arrest in February 2008, prominent Talysh scientist and human rights defender Novruzali Mamedov was also editor of “Talysh Voice” newspaper and head of the Talysh Cultural Centre. He was charged with espionage for Iran, and tortured to death in prison in 2010 (see https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/2129).
Front Line Defenders condemns the prosecution of Halil Mamedov and believes that the charges brought against him are directly linked to his legitimate human rights work. We are extremely concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Hilal Mamedov.
Azerbaijan-Update: Additional charges of high treason and espionage brought against Hilal Mamedov
Mr Hilal Mamedov
On 3 July 2012, Mr Hilal Mamedov, editor-in-chief of Talishi Sado (“Talysh Voice”) newspaper, was charged with high treason and incitement of national, racial or religious hatred.
On the following day, 4 July, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and General Prosecution office made a public statement announcing that Hilal Mamedov has also been charged with espionage on behalf of Iran.
According to the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan, Hilal Mamedov may face imprisonment from ten to fifteen years or life imprisonment under Article 274 for high treason. He may also face three to five years under Article 283.2.2 for incitement of national, racial or religious hatred.
Hilal Mamedov was arrested on 21 June for illegal possession of heroin, a charge which carries five to twelve years in prison. The police reported that they had found 5g of heroin in the pocket of Hilal Mamedov and 28.5g at his residence.
Hilal Mamedov was appointed editor-in-chief of Talishi Sado just 12 days prior to his arrest. The newspaper has not been published since the last editor-in-chief, Novruzali Mamedov, a prominent scientist, who died in prison after having been sentenced for espionage for Iran.
Front Line Defenders expresses concern for the physical and psychological integrity of human rights defender Hilal Mamedov and reiterates its calls for Azerbaijani authorities to drop all the charges against Hilal Mamedov, as it is believed that they are related to his peaceful and legitimate human rights work.
Azerbaijan: UPDATE- Court rejects human rights defender Hilal Mamedov's complaint of ill-treatment
Hilal Mamedo
On 29 August 2012, the Nasimi District Court of Baku denied human rights defender Mr Hilal Mamedov's appeal against a previous court decision rejecting his complaint of ill-treatment in detention.
The hearing was expected to be open to the public; however, Judge Emin Mehdiyev decided that it should be held in camera and moved it to the basement, meaning that the journalists and members of the committee established for the protection of Hilal Mamedov's rights who were present could not attend.
The hearing lasted just 30 minutes, and the court took over three hours to announce a verdict rejecting the complaint. The complaint was based on Hilal Mamedov's claim that he was given no food or water during his first two days in detention. The human rights defender's lawyer also has photographic evidence of leg injuries sustained by Hilal Mamedov in detention.
Hilal Mamedov was arrested on 21 June 2012 and charged with illegal possession of narcotics. On 3 July, he was also charged with “high treason“ and “incitement of national, racial or religious hatred” under Articles 274 and 283.2.2 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan.
Hilal Mamedov is a consultant with the Institute for Democracy and Peace and editor-in-chief of Tolishi Sado (Talysh Voice), the only newspaper in the Talysh minority language. He was also the head of the Committee for the Defence of Novruzali Mamedov, a prominent Talysh scientist and human rights activist charged in June 2008 with espionage and subsequently sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment. Novruzali Mamedov died as a result of torture in prison in 2010.
Front line Defenders condemns the rejection of Hilal Mamedov's complaint and believes that the decision to hold the hearing in camera was taken for the sole reason of denying impartial observers access to the hearing. Front Line Defenders reiterates its call on the Azerbaijani authorities to drop all charges against Hilal Mamedov and to effect his immediate and unconditional release.
For further information on this case, please see the Front Line Defenders urgent appeal, dated 25 June 2012: Mr Hilal Mamedov, editor in chief of Tolishi Sado arrested and charged with possession and distribution of heroin, and the subsequent update, dated 4 July 2012: Additional charges of high treason and espionage brought against Hilal Mamedo.
