ECtHR's decision on Movsum Samedov's case encourages Azerbaijani rights defenders

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), which awarded compensation to Movsum Samedov, the leader of the "Islamic Party of Azerbaijan" (IPA), has confirmed the political motives of the criminal cases instituted against him, and that fact gives hope for a positive outcome on his other complaints, human rights defenders note.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in January 2011, Movsum Samedov, charged with terrorism and attempted seizure of power along with other members of the "Islamic Party of Azerbaijan", was sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment. In October 2014, Movsum Samedov was transferred to the Gobustan closed prison, and, according to the defence, the detention in it undermined his health.

The ECtHR indicated that in 2011, Movsum Samedov was arrested after he sharply criticized the authorities for banning the wearing of hijabs in schools and called on the population to protest.

Elshan Gasanov, the coordinator of the Union "Freedom for Azerbaijani Political Prisoners" (UFAPP), believes that the ECtHR's decision on the Movsum Samedov's complaint confirms the political motives in the cases against the IPA leader.

"Movsum Samedov and persons sentenced together with him are still in prison. One of them Vagif Abdullaev, the IPA's deputy chairman, died in prison. Those people were arrested on fabricated charges ... and all of them were recognized as political prisoners," Elshan Gasanov stated.