ARTICLE 19, Global Campaign for Free Expression, Human Rights Watch and International PEN wish to express our profound concern regarding the arrest and pre-trial detention of Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizade, two Azerbaijani youth activists.

I am writing to express our profound concern about the death in custody of Novruzali Mammadov, editor-in-chief of Talyshi Sado newspaper, and urge you to conduct a thorough, impartial, prompt, and transparent investigation into his death, in accordance with Azerbaijan’s international commitments.

I am writing to express our profound concerns about the proposed amendments to the Law on Non-governmental Organizations (Public Associations and Foundations) that has been submitted to the Milli Majlis.

I am writing to express profound concern about the civil libel case brought by the Ministry of Internal Affairs against Leila Yunus, director of the Institute for Peace and Democracy, a nongovernmental human rights organization.  I urge that you withdraw the complaint against Ms. Yunus as the statements made by her that apparently form the basis of the libel accusations fall fully in the realm of protected speech.

Dear Prosecutor General Garalov,

We are writing to express our profound concern about the detention and abuse in custody of a leading human rights activist Emin Huseynov, and urge you to ensure a prompt and thorough investigation, capable of leading to the prosecution of the responsible officials.

Dear Secretary Kramer,

We believe that your forthcoming trips to Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia provide important opportunities for raising key human rights concerns with the respective governments. Below we outline our main concerns in each country as well as recommendations for bringing the countries in line with their international commitments.

Human Rights Watch writes to urge Dr. Ihsanoglu to use his position as Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference to support measures at the upcoming Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Conference in Dakar, Senegal on March 13-14 that would improve and strengthen the 1999 OIC Convention on Combating International Terrorism. In particular, the OIC should consider two amendments to the Convention to narrow its overbroad definition of terrorism and make absolutely clear that there is no sanction in Islam for deliberately attacking civilians, whatever the circumstances or justifications.

This submission, prepared to feed into the upcoming European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan progress report on Azerbaijan, summarizes Human Rights Watch’s concerns with respect to a number of areas where believe government action is not in line with the ENP Action Plan’s priority area 2 and 3 for Azerbaijan: Strengthening democracy in the country, including through fair and transparent electoral process; and strengthening the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, in compliance with international commitments of Azerbaijan.