Arrest of athlete for beating wife recalls problems with domestic violence in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani kick-boxer Anar Suleimanov is arrested for 20 days for beating his wife. Domestic violence against women is widespread, and recently the attitude of the police towards the problem has changed, notes Mekhriban Zeinalova, the head of the NGO "Clean World". Every year 30-40 victims of domestic violence seek help, reports Novella Djafaroglu, the head of the Association for the Protection of Women's Rights.

The "qafqazinfo.az" has reported that Anar Suleimanov beat his wife in November in a house in Baku, where they lived. The young woman was a student of Anar Suleimanov. The woman stated that they had been married for only two months.

"During all that time he kept me indoors and repeatedly beat and strangled me. Recently, after the beating, I escaped to my father's house. However, Anar threatened me and my family members ... He punched me in the face, kicked me, and dragged my hairs," the woman said.

The head of the NGO "Clean World" has informed the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that there are no exact statistics of victims of domestic violence, since many victims prefer not to make it public. However, the activist has noted that over the past four-five years, the attitude of the police to the facts of domestic violence has changed in a positive way.

According to Mekhriban Zeinalova, additional measures are needed at the state level.

Novella Djafaroglu, the head of the Association for the Protection of Women's Rights named after Dilara Alieva, has noted that sometimes victims themselves refuse to complain to the police. Women are often protected by their neighbours and acquaintances. The activist also believes that the state should carry out extensive propaganda against domestic violence.