22:58, 19 March 2007

Trial of Prophet Mohammed abusing publicists again postponed in Azerbaijan

Today, the Sabailskiy Court of the capital of Azerbaijan held a preparatory session on the case of publicist Rafik Tagi and Samir Sadagatoglu, editor of the "Sanat" newspaper.

"I don't plead guilty, the case has neither crime elements nor a victim," Mr. R. Tagi has stated at today's session.

In his turn, Mr. S. Sadagatoglu has stressed the political motivation of the case. "I'm not just innocent, moreover, a number of my constitutional rights have been breached, and I find myself to be a victim. This is a 'customized' and politically inspired case," he said.

The defendants' advocates have lodged petitions to the court on cancelling the freedom restriction measure with motives of illegal arrest, and on stopping the case because of ungrounded indictments and lack of any corpus delicti. However, Judge Yusif Kerimov, while giving no regard to the advocates' petitions, has appointed the next court sitting on April 2.

Author: Zaur Rasulzade, CK correspondent