Several IPA activists arrested in Azerbaijan

On August 11, Arif Ganiev, acting deputy head of the Islamic Party of Azerbaijan (IPA) for organizational issues, was detained in the city of Sumgait together with his son Yashar. On that very day, a spiritual figure Abdulah Suleimanov and Ramin Bairamov, editor of the website İslamazeri.az, were detained. The IPA has condemned the arrests in its statement.

he "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told at the IPA that some persons in civilian clothes dragged Arif and Yashar Ganiev into a car and left to some unknown place. Then, the Ganievs' house was searched.

It became known later that the Gavievs were brought to the Sumgait city division of the Ministry for National Security (MNS). By the evening, Yashar Ganiev was released; while his father Arif is still in custody. His lawyer Anar Gasymov has no information yet on the accusations presented to his client.

Mr Bairamov, editor of the website İslamazeri.az (a religious edition), was detained by persons in civilian clothes and brought to some unknown place. In the evening his house was searched by MNS agents, who found a grenade, a pistol and drugs. This was reported by Bairamov's advocate Elchin Namazov who added that his client had been detained as a suspect, and today he should see his indictment.