On June 12 in front of the parliament in Holland´s capital city of Hague a protest against pressure on the mass media in Azerbaijan was held, according to Eldaniz Yusibov, chairman of the World Union of Azerbaijani Political Immigrants. The protest was supposed to be held simultaneously with the journalists´ protest in Baku; however Baku´s Mayor refused to sanction the event for Baku journalists. (13-JUN-07)
Placed on web by Shahla Ismailova on the basis of information received from World Union of Azerbaijani Political Immigrants, photo by World Union of Azerbaijani Political Immigrants
Participants in the Holland protest carried the Azerbaijani and Dutch flags, as well as pictures of Azerbaijan´s imprisoned and persecuted journalists. They also carried placards bearing the following slogans; “Put an end to pressure on the free press,” “Free the Journalists,” “Free Press, Free Society,” “Oil-No, Freedom,” “Oil-No, Democracy,” “Oil-No, Free Press,” and “No to Dictatorships.”
Yusibov opened the action calling on European and Western countries not to sacrifice democracy for oil in Azerbaijan. He also called for the Council of Europe and European Union to take serious actions to make Azerbaijan fulfill its international obligations.
“Realny Azerbaycan” staff member Janmirza Mirzayev spoke at the event about the imprisonment of Realny Azerbaycan Chief Editor Eynulla Fatullayev.
At the end of the event, the protesters´ resolution was presented to Holland´s parliament. The resolution calls for the release of all of Azerbaijan´s imprisoned journalists and political prisoners, restoration of the activities of Baki Khabar, Realny Azerbaycan and Gundalik Azerbaycan, for Azerbaijan´s government to fulfill its international obligations and so on.
“Mediaforum” also reported that a similar event on the same day was held by the “Musavat” Party in Stockholm, Sweden.