Religious activist Zeinalov detained in Azerbaijan

In Azerbaijan, law enforcers have detained Elvin Zeinalov, a religious activist. His relatives have stated that narcotic drugs had been planted on him during a search.

Elvin Zeinalov was detained on January 31 in the village of Mashtaga, not far from his home, his mother, Tarana Zeinalova, has informed.

According to her story, while she went to the police to find out where her son was and why he was detained, Elvin was brought home, where her 32-year-old daughter was at the time.

"In front of her eyes, they took Elvin's trousers from the closet, and put something into the pocket. And then they pulled out what they had put in there and stated that ‘it  was marijuana.’ They filmed the ‘drug confiscation.’ Then, they took Elvin away," Tarana Zeinalova has explained, adding that her son is a believer and has never used any narcotic drugs.

Arzu Abdulla, a journalist, has suggested that Zeinalov "is another victim in the persecution of believers." "Elvin Zeinalov used to provide financial help to families of arrested believers and political prisoners," she has added.

According to her story, Zeinalov is a nephew of Etibar Ismailov, an activist, which may also be the reason for Elvin's persecution. "Etibar Ismailov was convicted for the Nardaran events of 2015; later he was released early on pardon. The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) recognized the illegality of his arrest. In February 2022, Etibar was arrested again, this time within a drug case. It is obvious that he was again convicted on trumped-up charges," Ms Abdulla has suggested.

Persecutions of believers under drug cases are widespread in Azerbaijan, Elshan Gasanov, a co-coordinator of the "For Freedom for Political Prisoners" Union, has noted.

"Our latest list of political prisoners as of December 2024 includes 331 persons, 233 of whom are believers, religious activists, and theologians. Most of them were arrested on drug charges," Mr Gasanov has stated.