21:50, 22 February 2007

Trial of journalists who insulted Prophet Mohammed starts in Azerbaijan

The trial of publicist Rafik Tagi, author of the scandalous article "Europe and We" with its hard-hitting utterances about Prophet Mohammed, and Samir Sadagatoglu, editor of the newspaper "Sanat" (Culture), where the article was published, will start on March 1 at the Nasiminskiy Court of the capital of Azerbaijan. The colleagues of the journalists have told the correspondent of the "Caucasian Knot" about the fact.

We note here that publicist R. Tagi and editor-in-chief of the "Sanat" newspaper S. Sadagatoglu were arrested under a court ruling on November 15 last year. They were found guilty of kindling the national, racial and religious enmity (Article 283.1 of the Criminal Code). The reason of both arrests was the article of Rafik Tagi in the November issue of the "Sanat" newspaper under the title "Europe and We." The material contained impartial references to Prophet Mohammed and stated the priority of Christian values over the Islamic ones. On November 13, a criminal case was initiated on the fact of publication.

Author: Zaur Rasulzade, CK correspondent