Azerbaijan: End prosecution of scholars, journalists and activists
09/12/2024 - Together with Amnesty International, PEN America, the International Press Institute and Human Rights Watch, the International Association for Media and Communication Research – IAMCR - condemns the abuse of the penal system in Azerbaijan for political purposes, and calls upon the Azeri government and upon the President, Ilham Aliyev, to immediately release all scholars, journalists and activists who exercise their freedom of expression and academic freedom and are prisoners for that reason.
We condemn the imprisonment of the academics Igbal Abilov and Bahruz Samadov, who is an IAMCR member 1. They were both arrested in the summer of 2024 on the charge of high treason in retaliation for their academic writings and their campaigning for peace and minority rights. Both remain in custody until today. If found guilty they face lengthy prison terms.
With an equally strong voice we condemn the imprisonment of more than a dozen Azeri journalists working for independent media, such as Abzas Media, Toplum TV and Kanal 13, who are facing a variety of accusations, including smuggling money, illegal entrepreneurship, money laundering and tax evasion, intended to silence their critical voices.
Reports from Amnesty International of abuse and the denial of necessary medical care for at least some of these imprisoned scholars, journalists and activists raise deep concerns about their well-being. We insist that the Azeri government takes all necessary measures to safeguard their human rights at all times, and at all cost.
We believe that the end of the COP29 is an excellent moment for the government of Azerbaijan to put its problematic human rights record straight.
Amnesty International has prepared several reports about this issue which can be consulted at https://www.amnesty.org/en/search/azerbaijan/?qyear=2024. Amnesty requests that supporters send a letter to Azeri president, Ilham Aliyev. You can find a model letter at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/eur55/8718/2024/en/
1 See the article published by IAMCR on 16 September 2024 "Support for Bahruz Samadov"
The text of this statement was agreed by the Clearinghouse for Public Statements and approved by IAMCR's president. It applies to the situation at the date of publication, notwithstanding any further evolution. The Clearinghouse processes statements and/or manages the process of signing statements generated by others, that are principally concerned with issues relating to media/communications and where IAMCR members have substantive scientific expertise that provides a basis for seeking to influence discursive or material practice. It publishes statements in line with the purposes of IAMCR as specified in its statutes, notably in article S.2.8: “to defend the professional interests of academic media and communication researchers, to help the improvement of their training, and to promote and defend the freedom and independence of academic work in media and communication research”.