Azerbaijan: famous theologian Talekh Bagirzade sentenced to two years in prison

Today in Baku, Talekh Bagirzade (Bagirov), accused of illegal possession of drugs, was sentenced to two years in prison. His defence intends to appeal against the verdict.

According to Anar Gasymov, Bagirzade's advocate, the trial was held with flagrant violations: "non-admission of journalists and the public to the open trial; violations of the rights of the defendant and advocates, who were provided no time to prepare their final speeches"; so that "the winning of the case at the European Court of Human Rights is doubtless."

Anar Gasymov has explained the haste of the trial and sentencing by the increased public attention and the fears of the authorities that the solidarity actions held in front of the courthouse could escalate into mass believers' protests.

As evidenced by eyewitnesses from the courtroom, one of the believers in protest spat in the direction of the judge – and was immediately detained.

The believers present in the yard of the courthouse were unhappy with the verdict, but took no active protest actions.

Rasul Djafarov, the head of the Human Rights Club (HRC), has treated the verdict to Bagirzade as politically motivated.

"We believe Talekh Bagirzade to be not only a political prisoner, but also a "prisoner of conscience". He was arrested and convicted only because of his sermons, in which he spoke about the contradiction of Islamic morality to corruption, embezzlement and lies of Azerbaijani authorities, and to their disregard of spiritual and moral values," Mr Djafarov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.