In Azerbaijan, arrested theologian Bagirzade put into dungeon again, his advocate said

In Azerbaijan, the theologian Talekh Bagirzade, who is kept in the SIZO (pre-trial prison), located in the Baku suburb of Kyurdakhany, has been placed into a punishment cell (dungeon) for three days. The penalty was caused by the Bagirzade's appeal to believers spread by the media, Djavad Djavadly, his advocate, said. This is the theologian's second punishment of this sort since his detention on March 31.

Let us remind you that Talekh Bagirzade, a theologian from the village of Nardaran, known for his sermons, in which he criticized the government of Azerbaijan, was detained on March 31. According to investigators, drugs were found on him at detention, but the theologian would not plead guilty.

Djavad Djavadly told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that SIZO managers explained Bagirzade's punishment by his misconduct.

However, Djavadly is convinced that Bagirzade was punished for distribution of the above appeal to the believers on the Internet on August 19. Bagirzade stated in it violations of citizens' religious rights, in particular, the ban on wearing hijabs in schools and arrests of those who protested against this ban.

Djavadly has also reported the completion of the linguistic examination of a number of Bagirzade's sermons, conducted at the request of investigators. According to the lawyer, experts gave no direct conclusion that the theologian had broken any particular laws. However, they found in Bagirzade's words an appeal "not to be afraid to raise voices against oppression"; and, in particular, they saw in it a call to disobedience.

So far, no news charges have been moved against Bagirzade on this fact, the lawyer said.