Condition of Azerbaijani activist Bagirzade deteriorates on tenth day of his hunger strike

Talekh Bagirzade, the convicted leader of the “Muslim Unity” movement, reported a deterioration in his condition on the tenth day of the hunger strike, but refuses the help of doctors, his spouse says. A hunger strike in solidarity with Talekh Bagirzade is being carried out by 10 more prisoners in Azerbaijani prisons, the Committee for the Protection of the Islamists’ Rights reported.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on June 3, Talekh Bagirzade went on a hunger strike, demanding to punish the law enforcers, who, according to supporters of the “Muslim Unity” movement, were blaspheming while torturing believers.

Lawyers note that insults against God can be qualified under the article on inciting national, racial, social, or religious hatred and enmity, but blasphemy is unlikely to result in a serious punishment for the law enforcers. Talekh Bagirzade explained that it was not so much the punishment of those people that was important for him, but he wanted them to recognize their mistake and repent.

On the tenth day of the hunger strike, Talekh Bagirzade got health problems, his spouse Leyla Ismailzade said. “He’s had a fever for two days now, and he’s got dizziness,” the woman said.

Let us remind you that on January 25, 2017, Talekh Bagirzade and 17 of his supporters were sentenced to 10-20 years of imprisonment on the charge of organizing riots after the law enforcers’ operation in November 2015, in which seven people died. The defendants pleaded not guilty and complained of torture. Human rights defenders recognized the defendants in the “Nardaran case” as political prisoners.