Hunger strike for freedom of media

The hunger strike of the representatives of mass media outlets, started since the 9-th of November causes serious concern.  The health of some strikers deteriorate, today the editor of Azadlig newspaper has been hospitalized. Despite of the strong urge of the international organizations, the government demonstrates full ignorance to the situation. Strikers demand to put end to the attempts of authorities to evict the Azadlig  newspaper  and other  mass media and organizations  from the building in Khagani 33 St., where  the newspaper  has been located  since 1992. (24-NOV-06)

Written by Shahla Ismailova/HRH Baku, on the basis of materials from Turan Info Agency, Today.Az, Day.Az, IRFS; photos by Turan IA and IRFS

The editors of the mass media outlets joined the hunger strike two days after the police dispersed a demonstration by journalists in support of the newspaper Azadlig, which is  threatened with eviction from its premises. Among the striking editors are the editor of Azadlig newspaper Ganimat Zahidov, the director of Turan IA Mehman Aliyev, the editor of Yeni Musavat Rauf Arifoglu.
The hunger-strikers appealed for support from international organizations including the European  Union, the Council of Europe and the OSCE. “The western democracies must not trade our petroleum for democracy,” reads the statement of editors. 

Foreign diplomats raise voices
On the 15-th of November the representatives from the American and British  diplomatic missions and the OSCE visited hunger-striking journalists and met  with the editors from some mass media outlets in Azadlig daily’s editorial  office, where the hunger strike is occurring.  It was stressed that the diplomatic missions are well informed about state of mass media and freedom  of speech in Azerbaijan. After meeting, the diplomats made a brief statement to the press.  The statement reads: 
“….We call on the Azerbaijani authorities to apprehend and punish those who have perpetrated violence against journalists, including the murder of Elmar Huseynov. We urge authorities the Azerbaijani government to move the crime of libel from the criminal to the civil code, and, whenever possible, to work through the Media Council as an alternative to pursuing libel suits against newspapers and journalists. We urge the National Television and Radio Council to approve the outstanding license applications of ANS Television, Leader Television and others, and to work with foreign broadcasters like VOA, RFE/RL, and the BBC to ensure that they can continues to broadcast to the widest possible audience in Azerbaijan.  With regard to the possible eviction of Azadlig and others from this building, we hope that this issue can be resolved in accordance with due legal process and in a manner which does not negatively impact the freedom of the independent media.”

 Ali Hasanov calls the strike “political show”
The main ideologist of the ruling regime Ali Hasanov (the head of sociopolitical department) once again declared that the claims of the State Property Committee (SPC) demanding eviction of Azadlig newspaper are well-grounded.  According to him, the newspaper is trying to turn the “legal” demands into a “political show.”  Commenting the hunger strike on TV Ali Hasanov rudely mentioned “it is their stomach. If they want to keep the stomachs empty, it is their choice”.

Editor of Azadlig newspaper is hospitalized
On the 24-th of November, the health of the Azadlig newspaper’s editor Ganimat Zahidov (on the right), who has been on the hnger strike since the 9-th of November, seriously deteriorated. The ambulance doctors hospitalized “Azadlig” newspaper Editor-in-Chief Ganimat Zahidov, who has been on hunger strike since Nov. 9. The reason for his hospitalization is the deterioration of health, at 13:00 his blood pressure dropped to 80/40 and he lost consciousness. Zahidov was taken to the reanimation ward of hospital N5. Just last Wednesday, Zahidov, released a statement in which he said he would not stop the strike and was ready to die for his cause.

“In the atmosphere created by the authorities, such an action has become an adequate response,” Zahidov wrote. “The country is governed neither by divine, nor by state laws. Attacks on Azadlig newspaper have become regular. During the past three or four months the newspaper has been fined $300,000. The authorities also want to evict the newspaper’s editorial office from the building it occupies.”
 
Zahidov also wrote that people’s poet Bahtiyar Vagabzade, Allakhshukur Pashazadeh, head of Caucasian Muslim Religious Department, and political leaders have appealed to him to stop the hunger-strike. “It is difficult for me to stand up against these people’s demands and requests, but, unfortunately, I have no way out,” reads the statement. “I regret that I cannot comply with requests from people that I deeply respect and stop the strike. I think these people must demand that the authorities observe both divine and state laws. They must urge authorities to give up their struggle against freedom of speech and human rights.”
 
Reporter without Borders supports the strikers
Reporters Without Borders voiced its full support for those staging a hunger-strike in Azerbaijan to protest against the government’s undeclared war on the free press. “This is the second time Azeri journalists have been forced to go on a hunger-strike to make themselves heard, the press freedom organization said.  Their November 1999 protest led to a significant increase in press freedom in Azerbaijan. Today the situation is more difficult, because there is more government harassment and it affects foreign media as well,” reads the statement. 

The statement reads “Government harassment of the media increased after the March 2005 murder of  Elmar Husseynov, the editor if the opposition magazine “Monitor”. The victims of press freedom violations have included satirical poet Sakit  Zahidov, who received a three-year prison sentence on a trumped-up charge, the  newspaper he writes for, Azadlig, the ANS TV station and three foreign radio  stations (the BBC, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Voice of America). And at last the authorities have filed a suit to evict opposition Azadlig daily and other media located in one and the same building.

Imprisoned journalist joined the hunger strike
On the 23-rd of November, the imprisoned journalist Zahidov has joined the hunger-strike being conducted by journalists’ to end pressure on the press and stop attempts to evict Azadlig Newspaper and other press organs from the building at 33 Khagani Street. Prior to his arrest, Zahidov worked for Azadlig and his brother, Ganimet Zahidov, is Azadlig’s editor-in-chief.