Statement from the Committee for the Defense of Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan - 2003-07-07

Statement from the Committee for the Defense of Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan - 2003-07-07. The National Day of Babak ceremony successfully concluded. Despite all efforts by military, security, and intelligence organizations to police the atmosphere in Azerbaijan, activists of the national movement in Azerbaijan managed to reach the Babak Castle on July 12 and 13 and present their demands, even though the castle had been turned into a military base. During this time, cultural activists, writers, and journalists in Azerbaijan faced increased pressures. The threat to Azerbaijani newspapers and publications regarding the non-publication of news and articles related to the Babak Castle ceremony is a clear violation of press freedom by the Islamic Guidance Offices in Azerbaijan. Additionally, several writers, journalists, and artists from Azerbaijan were arrested before and during this ceremony. Names of the detainees: 1 - Kian Safari; writer, journalist, and former reporter for the weekly Navid Azerbaijan: He has been in detention in Urmia since 5/4/82 on charges of propaganda against the regime. A bail of 30 million tomans has been issued for Mr. Safari. 2 - Engineer Alireza Javanbakht Qolonju; writer and literary editor of the publication "Ses" has been in detention in Urmia since 6/4/82 on charges of propaganda against the regime. 3 - Payman Pakmehr; journalist for the newspapers Nasim Saba and Ahrar Tabriz was arrested on Wednesday, July 11, at Babak Castle by plainclothes forces and beaten, and there is still no information about him. 4 - Asghar Jebrail Khalili; a national artist of Azerbaijan was arrested on Thursday, July 12, in Kalibar while heading to Babak Castle, and there is still no information about him. 5 - Ensaf Ali Heydat; freelance journalist from Tabriz has been in detention in Tabriz since June 26. 6 - Yashar Karimi; editor-in-chief of the student publication Yildirim at Hamadan University has been summoned and detained since 27/3/82. 7 - Mehdi Zinali, editor of the student publication Yildirim at Hamadan University has been summoned and detained since 27/3/82. 8 - Additionally, Mr. Ali Mohammadi (editor of the student publication Yul at Tehran University), Gholam Abbas Angouti, Daryush Pourdadashi, Sayad Doost Talab, and Ms. Azar Kheirallah and Ansieh Hamzeh Zadeh from the editorial board of the weekly newsletter Yul at Tehran University were also detained for 5 hours in Kalibar while heading to Babak Castle and were sent to court in handcuffs, but were released after signing a commitment and fingerprinting. The Committee for the Defense of Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan (ASMEK) expresses its deep regret over the recent arrests and calls for special attention from human rights organizations and communities regarding the restriction of human and national rights of Azerbaijani citizens. In hopes of the freedom of all political prisoners.