Local media organizations and rights advocates on Wednesday appealed to President Ilham Aliyev to help find and punish perpetrators of the recent attacks on journalists and also prevent such cases from happening in the future. (30 July 2004)

 

 

Appeal

The appeal that was signed by 24 non-governmental organizations reminded the President of the assaults on two opposition journalists over the past two weeks.
Unknown people attacked Eynulla Fatullayev, a known journalist with the opposition Monitor magazine, in downtown Baku on Monday, hitting him with by a blunt object to the head. Fatullayev suffered a serious injury, but survived the blow. Ten days before, another opposition journalist, Baku-Khabar chief editor Aydin Quliyev, had been abducted and tortured. The journalists claim that the attacks were related with their professional activities. Both publications are very critical of the authorities.

 

USA concerned on attacks upon journalists

 

The US Department of State continues to closely monitor the status of media freedom in Azerbaijan, said Kathy Sdhallow, press officer of the Press and Public Diplomacy Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs of the US Department of State. Voice of America reports that Sdhallow said they were disturbed by the reports regarding recent attacks on journalists. “We are seeking further information on both cases”, she said.” In cases like this, we immediately seek to meet with the journalists, and we remain in close contact with them. The full circumstances of these incidents are not yet known, so it is premature to draw any firm conclusions. We have raised our concerns to the Azerbaijani government. We urge the government to mount a full- investigation and to hold the perpetrators of these crimes accountable”, noted Sdhallow.

 

Journalists to hold protest action

 

The first session of the new organizational committee for conducting of forum “Azerbaijan press is under jeopardy” was held on Thursday. The member of the organizational committee Azer Hasrat informed TURAN, the participants of discussions adopted several decisions. Particularly decision to run the round table with participation of public, political figures and foreign diplomats on 4 August was adopted. Except that journalists are to run protest action in front of president administration with demand to defend press from attacks on 6 August.
    As to the forum “Azerbaijan press is under jeopardy”, it will take place on 15 August with participation of hundreds of journalists, public figures, human right defenders and representatives of international organizations.

 

 

Journalist and human rights organizations urge Ilham Aliyev to express his attitude to latest attacks upon journalists

 

25 journalist and human rights organizations of Azerbaijan have submitted a joint statement to President Ilham Aliyev in relation to latest facts of physical violence against journalists. The statement reads that the responsibility for safety of citizens of Azerbaijan and ensuring the freedom of expression rests on the Head of State. Azeri President is the guarantor of rights and freedoms, but during 9 monthsin government, Ilham Aliyev did not hold a single meeting with journalists.
    The document reads that regular attacks and attempts upon journalists are registered in Azerbaijan. He particularly referred to latest cases with Aydin Guliyev and Eynulla Fatullayev. The authors of the statement consider that the Head of State must clearly demonstrate his attitude to such incidents. The document reads it was surprising that the Head of State did not give any reaction to both incidents.
    Heads of journalist and human rights organizations are therefore urging Ilham Aliyev to express his attitude to attacks upon journalists, ensure safety of persons who fulfill their professional duties and hold the perpetrators of crimes against mass media accountable.—

 

Concern of public activists

A group of public activists of Azerbaijan in today’s statement expressed their “profound concern and discontent about frequent cases of attacks upon prominent journalists”. The lack of reaction of the authorities and inactivity of police establishesan environment where these “strict” actions form a purposeful policy, spreading fear in Azeri society, reads the document. “We view these activities as crimes against state and public interests of Azerbaijan. The responsibility for these crimes rests not only on organizersand perpetrators, but also those who encourage criminals by their inactivity”,reads the statement. These powers cannot frighten the society of Azerbaijan, consider authors of the document. The statement demands the leadership of Azerbaijan and law enforcement authorities to “make all due measures for holding the organizers and perpetrators of these crimes accountable”. 

 

 Intelligentsia movement AMAL in its statement strongly criticized recent attack upon Monitor magazine employee Eynulla Fatullayev. Authors of the document consider this attack upon journalist near the Interior Ministry and in broad daylight was “crying arbitrariness and lawlessness”.
    AMAL movement estimated the attack as “terrorist act against human rights and freedom of expression”. The authors of the statement demanded law enforcement authorities to hold the perpetrators of the crime accountable”.
    “As far as criminals remain unpunished, national consent will be impossiblein the country, and Azerbaijan‘s image at international arena will be undermined”, reads the statement.
    Pluralism center “Inam” in turn stated that abduction of Baki Habar newspaper editor and attack upon Eynulla Fatullayev were links of one chain. The authorities must give a proper assessment to these facts and make every effort for prevention of such cases in the future.–0–