Azeri Journalists at Risk of Infections

Imprisoned journalists are at risk of catching infectious diseases like AIDS, tuberculosis and hepatitis said Emin Huseynov (right), the director of Institute for Reporters Freedom and Safety during a roundtable at the organization’s press center on 17 August. Several human rights defenders attended the meeting and the participants agreed to send an information request on the matter to the Justice Ministry to achieve health examination of all imprisoned journalists.
(18-AUG-07)

The article is based on a press release of the Institute for Reporters Freedom and Safety (IRFS), photos by Shahla Ismailova /HRH Baku

At the roundtable discussion entitled “Lives of Imprisoned Journalists are in Danger” Emin Huseynov noted that imprisoned journalists are receiving services in the same prison barbershop and medical unit as the prisoners will infectious diseases. It cannot be ruled out that some journalists are being kept in the same cells with people with infectious diseases.

The government could intentionally infect journalists with these diseases and it will be not be possible to determine who is to blame. Basically all imprisoned journalists have health problems; however that are hindered from receiving treatment. But then the journalists’ health conditions seriously deteriorate, and they are forced to receive treatment in prison health departments, where money is demanded for treatment and medicine. Prior to being placed in corrective institutions, prisoners should undergo thorough therapeutic and laboratory medical examinations, however all of these processes currently are only formal in nature, said Huseynov.

Visit to local prisons
The Human Rights advocate Saida Gojamanli (right), said it also needs to be taken into consideration that some illnesses arise as a result of torture. Next week Gojamanli and other human rights advocates will visit the local prisons and they will familiarize themselves with the health and conditions detainment of the imprisoned journalists.

According to human rights advocated Novella Jafarova (right), there are many cases in which ill prisoners are kept together with healthy prisoners.

Mobilizing investigation
RUH Journalist Confederation Chairperson Mushfig Alesgerli called for journalism organizations to mobilize and organize investigations into the conditions in which imprisoned journalists are being kept. The fact that imprisoned journalists Faramaz Allahveridyev and Sakit Zahidov are kept with prisoners infected with tuberculosis and AIDS was discussed.

Human Rights defender Saadet Bananyarli (right) announced that if it is confirmed that journalists are being kept with other risky, infectious prisoners, she said she would appeal to relevant local and international organizations.

At the end of the roundtable a decision was adopted for the conduction of monitoring in prisons, to send an information request on this matter to the Justice Ministry, to achieve a thorough health examination of all imprisoned journalists and to inform imprisoned journalists about what measures they can take to ensure their safety.