(CPJ/IFEX) – On 8 January 1998, CPJ expressed concern at the 22 December 1997 arrest of Salavan Mamedov, editor of the weekly newspaper “Istintag”. According to CPJ’s colleagues from Yeni Nesil, the independent association of journalists in Azerbaijan, Mamedov was charged with criminal libel under Article 121 of the Azeri Penal Code for allegedly making […]
(CPJ/IFEX) – On 8 January 1998, CPJ expressed concern at the 22 December
1997 arrest of Salavan Mamedov, editor of the weekly newspaper
“Istintag”. According to CPJ’s colleagues from Yeni Nesil, the
independent association of journalists in Azerbaijan, Mamedov was charged
with criminal libel under Article 121 of the Azeri Penal Code for
allegedly making “false and dishonouring comments” against Nazim Tagiev,
the former prosecutor of the Lenkoran district in Baku. In a number of
articles, Mamedov claimed that Tagiev had cooperated with Alikram
Gumbatov, who was convicted of treason and attempting to stage an
uprising. According to Yeni Nesil, Mamedov, as of 8 January, remained in
police custody, while court hearings had not yet been scheduled.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to President Aliev:
exercising his internationally recognized right to practice his
profession.
are civil remedies available for libel
public officials, and pointing out that the European Court of Human
Rights rulings on such cases bears this out
to consider advocating the repeal of all criminal libel statutes in
Azerbaijan’s penal code
freedom, as well as Azerbaijan’s international obligations to respect
freedom of expression
Appeals To
His Excellency Heidar Aliyev
President of Azerbaijan
Baku, Azerbaijan
Fax: +8922 92 17 63
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Please copy appeals to the source if possible.