In Baku, police prevent IPA pickets in front of French and US Embassies

Today, a group of activists of the Islamic Party of Azerbaijan (IPA) attempted to hold protest actions in front of the French and US Embassies in Baku in connection with the film "Innocence of Muslims", shot in the USA, and the publication of the French weekly newspaper "Charlie Hebdo" of the cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. Reinforced police squads prevented the protests by detaining most active participants.

The protest action in front the French Embassy was scheduled for 11:00 a.m. However, starting from the early morning, the building of the Embassy was taken under reinforced guard. The police blocked the way of the protesters in 30 meters from the Embassy, in the "Khagani" Garden. Policemen extruded Muslims, who arrived individually and in small groups of 2-3 persons, in the opposite direction deep into the garden.

Women in hijabs were seen among the protesters. They voiced the slogans: "Long live Islam", "Death to enemies of Islam," "Let it Israel and USA be cursed".

Several of the most active participants of the protest action managed to get closer to the Embassy. However, they were immediately detained and forced into police cars.

Another IPA's action was scheduled for 12:30 a.m. in front of the US Embassy. The territory of the Embassy was also brought under reinforced guard of policemen and persons in civilian clothes. The police did not allow all "suspicious" citizens, defined by appearance, clothing, etc., to go towards the Embassy.