23:10, 11 December 2009

In Baku, police disperses protesters against mosques demolition

Today, over a hundred activists of the Islamic Party of Azerbaijan held an action in front of Mosque "Fatmei-Zakhra" in Eni Guneshli settlement in a Baku suburb in protest against court decision to demolish this temple. According to the protesters, policemen did not let them to the mosque and detained about 50 activists.

Since the organizers of the action failed to notify media in advance, there were no journalists in the venue. However, one of the participants of the action Mirmekhti Irzaev told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent: "Hardly had we started the meeting, about 30 policemen appeared at the building. The started roughly pushing the protesters away from the mosque; a small collision of Islamists with the police burst out. About 50 participants of the action were detained. Some time later, about half of them were released," he has noted.

As reported by the Islamic Party, by the evening all the detainees were warned and released. Only 4 participants of the action were brought to the Surakhan Court and administratively fined by 20 manats (24 US dollars) each.

Author: Faik Medzhid

Source: CK correspondent