International Human rights defenders demand release of Khadija Ismayilova
Baku, Azerbaijan: International Human rights defenders demand release of Khadija Ismayilova.
Human rights organisations have expressed their disappointment in the government of Azerbaijan for failing to free its political prisoners although Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev gave amnesty to 210 prisoners on December 28.
Political prisoners and three imprisoned journalists have demanded amnesty from government along with unconditional apology from government to infringe their human rights.
Khadija Ismayilova, Gilal Mamedov, and Parviz Gashimli have demanded amnestyclaimed Meydan TV. However journalists said that they were not guilty of the crimes with which they were convicted.
“We do not want a pardon,” stated Khadija Ismayilova in her statement, “We demand the government acquit us and to apologize for the violation of our rights.”
It maybe mentioned that the US Helsinki Commission introduced a bill this past month, the Azerbaijan Democracy Act of 2015, to deny visas to senior Azerbaijani officials and those who profit from lucrative business deals with Azerbaijan’s political elite and members of its security and judicial institutions.
The bill comes in response to the “appalling human rights violations” taking place in the country.
Imanov added in regards to potential US sanctions, “If [the Azerbaijani government doesn’t] have enough common sense in order to [free the journalists], then any actions that invite the government to make it right, including sanctions initiatives from the USA, are welcome.”
