In Azerbaijan, "Khural" reporter sentenced to three years in prison

The Lenkoran District Court of Azerbaijan has sentenced Aidyn Djanyev, a regional correspondent of the newspaper "Khural", to three years in jail for disorderly conduct in relation to the mosque Akhund. Journalists believe that Djanyev was punished for his newspaper article with criticism of the clergy.

Mr Djanyev's attraction to criminal responsibility was caused by the complaint of Mirbaba Tairov, the Akhund (a title of a Muslim scholar, – note of the "Caucasian Knot") of the Mosque "Sahib az-Zaman", located in the village of Syarnyakyaran, Lenkoran District.

According to investigators, on September 7 Djanyev, while being drunk, committed hooliganism in the Mosque "Sahib az-Zaman": he broke the windows, used foul language against the Akhund of the Mosque Tairov, who tried to stop him. As a result of Djanyev's battering, the Akhund received brain concussion and head haematoma.

In his turn, Djanyev denied all the charges. He admitted that he had a dispute with the Akhund, but stated that he did not use force against him. At the trial Djanyev refused from an advocate, saying that it "makes no sense, since the court will pas an ordered decision."

Nureddin Khodja, the acting editor-in-chief of the "Khural", believes that Djanyev was arrested in the context of his newspaper article published on September 6 and entitled "Allakhshukyur Pashazade Sows Seeds of Discord in Lyankyaran", which criticized the activities of the local clergy and, in particular, of Allakhshukyur Pashazade, the representative of the head of the Caucasian Muslims Office (CMO). The author noted that people used protection to receive positions of the clergy in the region.