The House received no prior warnings nor any complaints about the regular and timely reports to the authorities. According to the Ministry of Justice, in the future the Human Rights House Azerbaijan will be allowed to carry out activities only upon prior agreement with the State. The Human Rights House Network believes this measure to be part of the escalated repression of the civil society in the last few weeks, in connection with the calls for pro-democracy demonstrations in March 2011.
The Human Rights House Azerbaijan was registered in 2007 as an international branch of the Human Rights House Foundation and officially opened on 25 April 2009. It serves as an independent meeting place, a resource centre, and a coordinator for human rights organisations. In 2010, 6000 human rights defenders, including youth activists, independent journalists, and lawyers, used the House – as such, the Human Rights House Azerbaijan was one of the few open meeting places in Baku. It has become a focal point for promotion and protection of human rights in Azerbaijan.
Members of partners of the Human Rights House Network issued a statement today, condemning the closure of the Human Rights House Azerbaijan and calling upon the Azerbaijani authorities to protect human rights defenders and their organizations, and to ensure the right of every citizen to express his/her opinion, to associate, to assemble and be a human rights defender.
Related information:
Youth activists targeted as freedom of expression clampdown continues
HR organisations protest proposed amendments to NGO law in Azerbaijan (updated)
New York Times article: Police in Azerbaijan arrest antigovernment protesters
Other organisations’ coverage:
Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Institute for Reporters Freedom and Safety (IRFS) are among the organisations who have followed the unfolding events in Azerbaijan. Read HRW’s article here and IRFS here.
