Rights defenders called on Azerbaijani authorities to release paralyzed activist

The health condition of Abulfaz Bunyadov, a bedridden religious activist, who is serving his prison term, has deteriorated sharply. The Centre for the Protection of Political Prisoners (CPPP) has urged Azerbaijani authorities to set the activist free in connection with his serious illness.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 11, 2018, a court in Baku found Abulfaz Bunyadov, paralyzed after being wounded by law enforcers during a special operation in Nardaran, and Elkhan Iskenderov, guilty of terrorism and other grave crimes. Bunyadov was sentenced to 15 years in prison with serving first three years in the closed Gobustan Prison.

Leila Bunyadova, Abulfaz's wife, has noted that "apart of his spinal cord damage," her husband "has a host of other diseases, including hepatitis C."

"Further Bunyadov's keeping in prison may lead to his death. Imprisoning him in his current condition is against the concepts of humanity," said Ogtai Gyulyalyev, the head of the CPPP.

Eldaniz Guliev, the co-chairman of the Committee for the Protection of Prisoners-Believers' Rights, has called to release Bunyadov, "at least for reasons of humanism."

The decision to release Bunyadov can be taken by the country's Supreme Court (SC), Yalchin Imanov, a rights defender, has noted.