In case against Nursi followers, defendants' advocates ask court to acquit their clients

At the trial held at the Yasamal District Court of Baku, advocates of the defendants in the case against the Said Nursi followers, detained in April 2014, have asked the Court to acquit their clients. The advocates also claimed the political background of the case.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in April 2014, Azerbaijani law enforcers conducted a search in one of the apartments located in Khidir Mustafaev Street in Baku. During the search, the law enforcers detained 41 persons, followers of theologian Said Nursi, and confiscated from the apartment banned religious books and audio and video materials, promoting the religious concept of Said Nursi. The trial in the case is being held at the Yasamal District Court of Baku. The prisoners' dock contains five persons.

On September 29, the advocates delivered their final speech and asked the Court to acquit the defendants.

"The banned religious books were published in 2006-2007, and the defendants acquired them at the same time. At that time, the books were not banned," said advocate Asabali Mustafaev.

The advocate believes that the criminal case against the Said Nursi followers is connected with the campaign against supporters of Fatullah Gulen in Turkey.

"The media published a lot of materials stating that the authorities of Azerbaijan and Turkey launched a tacit cooperation against their opponents in each other's territories. We can assume with a high degree of confidence that the criminal case against my clients resulted from the campaign against Said Nursi followers close to Fatullah Gulen. Ankara officials believe that Fatullah Gulen has followers in Azerbaijan and that they support their associates in Turkey. However, the defendants in this case are ordinary believers, who are not associated with any group," Asabali Mustafaev has said.

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