AI announces journalist Khadija Ismayilova to be "prisoner of conscience"

The human rights organization "Amnesty International" (AI) said that the journalist Khadija Ismayilova was arrested in Azerbaijan for political reasons and recognized her as a "prisoner of conscience".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the Sabail District Court of Baku ruled to put Ismayilova into custody on charges of incitement to a suicide attempt of her former colleague Tural Mustafaev. Independent lawyers cast doubt on investigators' version.

Ismayilova was arrested for political reasons; and in this context the AI declared her to be a "prisoner of conscience" and urged all citizens to appeal to the authorities of Azerbaijan demanding her immediately release. This is said in the AI's statement as quoted by the "Contact.az".

The AI has demanded from the Azerbaijani authorities to ensure the freedom of expression in accordance with its international obligations, and criticized the official Baku for removing the lawyer Khalid Bagirov from defending Ismayilova, the Radio Azadlyg has summed up.

In April 2013, Ismayilova was one of the ten laureates of the contest "Hero of the Caucasus-2012" held by the "Caucasian Knot".

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.