The hunger strike targeted at restoration of the education rights of two expelled students – Turan Aliyev and Namik Feyziyev continues for 16 days. The health condition of Emin Huseynov deteriorated so much, that he has urgently been hospitalized today. The other 3 strikers have serious pains and weakness. Nevertheless, there is still no action taken by the Ministry of Education or the Ombudsman in the direction of protecting the strikers’ rights. The picket of the young activists in front of the Ministry of Education has been dispersed today. (12-JAN-2006)

Health state of strikers
The most serious concern about the hunger strike is the health state of the strikers. On the 15th day the strikers had acute pains in heart. Electric cardiogram made by physicians of first medical aid station showed changes in cardiovascular system. Physician said that the strikers’ organism had shortage of glucose. The young people have low blood pressure and their temperature dropped a little.

Today, on the 12-th of January, which is the 16-th day of the hunger strike the health condition of Emin Huseynov, coordinator of Magam movement, has seriously deteriorated. He cannot drink water, because of spasms in abdomen. He is unable to move without help. Physicians of first medical aid station said his blood pressure dropped and his organism is seriously exhausted. Emin Huseynov has been taken to reanimation department of hospital No1.

Other strikers Namig Feyziyev and Turan Aliyev (expelled students) have pains in liver, heart and low blood pressure and their health condition causes the doctors’ concern as well. Elnur Mamedov, an activist of Yeni Fikir, who has been striking for seven days, also feels bad. He has stomach disease and the doctors strongly urge him to stop the strike. It should be reminded that Elnur Mamedov went on hunger strike from 1-3 January and had to stop it because of the bleeding in the stomach, but he re-joined the strikers on the 6-th of January again.

Press-conference of the strikers
15-days-strikeOn the 11-th of January Namig Feyziyev told at the press-conference “the government of Azerbaijan will bear responsibility for threat to our health and lives,” The other striker, the coordinator of Magam Movement Emin Huseynov stated that none official visited them during 15 days of strike. The representatives of president’s administration state they cannot adopt any decision because of absence of president, the strikers state. 

“We appeal to the President Ilham Aliyev if he is not indifferent to the fate of his people to express attitude to the action of hunger strike demanding to restore the rights of students expelled from universities for political motives,” Huseynov said. He stated about numerous appeals from the international remedial organizations ready to support the strikers. The strikers plan to continue the action, despite poor health until their demands are fulfilled.

According to Seymur Khaziyev, the Head of Popular Front Youth Committee, the strikers refuse to be hospitalized because they do not confide the authorities. “We all remember the activist of Yeni Fikir Organization Sayid Nuri, who was isolated in the hospital from people for a long,” Khaziyev said.

International support
On the 11-th of January the Human Rights House Foundation sent protest letters to the Ministry of Education of Azerbaijan and to Ombudsman. The copies of letters were sent to Baku State University, State Pedagogical University, Baku offices of Norwegian Embassy, OSCE and the Council of Europe. The HRH Foundation calls the strikers to stop the hunger strike and to continue the struggle by other means of protest. It should be mentioned that the Human Rights House Foundation released the statement regarding the issue on the 6-th of January which was sent to the above-mentioned addressees, too.

On the 6-th of January LYMEC – organization of Young European Liberal-Democrats –with the headquarters in Brussels released a statement too.

The statement reads that LYMEC invites its members to inform their local media about the Azeri student activists who have started a hunger strike before New Year Eve to protest after Turan Aliev and Namiq Feyziyev, two students from Baku, were expelled from their University by local authorities. The young protesters claim that the two students were expelled because of their political views, a method also used by Belarus dictatorship, whereas the authorities say they were thrown out because of bad grades.

LYMEC is very concerned about the health conditions of the young protesters. Students’ condition are getting worse and worse after ten days of hunger strike. Last medical reports are worrying. LYMEC therefore asks the ALDE Groups in the European Parliament and in the Council of Europe, as well as the ELDR Party, to make sure that the Council of Europe, the European Parliament and the European Commission seek explanations from the Azerbaijan Government about the case, and ensure that the students on hunger strike get proper medical care.
LYMEC sent an Observation Mission to Azerbaijan during last November’s elections. It was a chance to meet some of the young students that are today on hunger strike. We want to reassure them of our full support to their actions and hope a swift ending to the present deadlock. The statement reads that the protesters reportedly belong to the Yeni Fikir (New Thinking) and Maqam! (Enough!) youth movements and to the youth movement of the Popular Front Party’s reformist branch. Discrimination and pressure on students for their political opinions and violation of their Constitutional rights seem to have become an ordinary practice in Azerbaijan.

Picket of youth was dispersed by police
picket-EDUToday, on the 12-th of January, a group of members of youth organizations has attempted to picket Education Ministry to demand restoration of rights of two students Namig Feyziyev and Turan Aliyev expelled from universities on political motives. About 30 policemen have prevented the action. As soon as young people approached the Education Ministry, policemen, including senior officers, did not let them to go further.

“Today’s police actions once again prove that students are harassed for their political convictions. We came to express protest in a peaceful way and present our demands to Education Ministry’s administration. But they even did not want to listen to us,” said Seymur Khaziyev, head of PPFA Youth Committee.

No action from the government
Despite of the above mentioned protest actions, statements and appeals of both the national and international communities – there is no reaction of the Ministry of Education or the Universities. According to the strikers not a single official visited the strikers during this period. The Ombudsman, who is to act as a human rights defender, remains silent since the 6-th of January, when she last visited the office of strikers with inadmissible suggestion. The representatives of president’s administration state they cannot adopt any decision because of absence of president, who is on vacation.