• Human Rights in Azerbaijan

    The government cracked down on all forms of public protest, at times violently, and imprisoned activists on politically-motivated charges. The atmosphere for journalists is hostile, and government officials continue to initiate criminal and civil libel cases against journalists. The government tightened restrictions on religious groups, and banned women from wearing head scarves in schools and universities, leading thousands to drop out. Torture and ill-treatment in police custody continue with impunity. The Baku mayor’s office has forcibly evicted thousands of residents and demolished their homes, including in a neighborhood next to the National Flag Square, where the anticipated venue for the May 2012 Eurovision Song Contest is being built.

  • Azerbaijani police detain an opposition activist during an unsanctioned protest rally in Baku, Azerbaijan on Oct. 20, 2012.
    © 2012 AP Photo
    Azerbaijan: Shrinking Space for Media Freedom
    At least eight journalists and three human rights defenders are in jail, and freedom of expression is severely limited in Azerbaijan, the host of the upcoming United Nations-sponsored Internet Governance Forum.
More news »

Featured Content

Subscribe to content feed

Reports

More >>

Azerbaijan

  • Azerbaijan: Shrinking Space for Media Freedom
    Nov 2, 2012
    At least eight journalists and three human rights defenders are in jail, and freedom of expression is severely limited in Azerbaijan, the host of the upcoming United Nations-sponsored Internet Governance Forum.
  • Azerbaijan: Concerns Regarding Freedom of the Media and Freedom of Expression
    Nov 2, 2012
    From November 6 to 9, Azerbaijan will host the Internet Governance Forum, an annual meeting convened by the United Nations secretary general that brings together governments, civil society, and other actors as equal partners to discuss public policy issues relating to the internet.
  • Azerbaijan Universal Periodic Review Submission
    Oct 31, 2012
  • Azerbaijan: Peaceful Rallies Forcibly Dispersed
    Oct 22, 2012
    Police rounded up dozens of youth and political party activists in central Baku on October 20, 2012, roughing them up and forcing them into police cars and buses.
  • Council of Europe’s Message to Azerbaijan: Enough Is Enough
    Jun 28, 2012
    This week has been an important turning point for human rights in Azerbaijan. After managing for almost three years to silence Europe’s foremost human rights body through misrepresentation, obstruction and bullying, the Azerbaijani government has been sent a clear message: enough is enough.
  • Kosovo: New Law Puts Media Freedom at Risk
    Jun 27, 2012
    The Kosovo government should take urgent steps to address the threat to media freedom posed by provisions that, despite extensive protest, have survived in the new criminal code.
  • Azerbaijan: Council of Europe Should Speak Up
    Jun 25, 2012
    The Azerbaijani government released nine prisoners who had been convicted on politically motivated charges on June 22, 2012, four days before a Council of Europe body is scheduled to discuss a report on political prisoners in the country.
  • Azerbaijan: Letter to the Council of Europe Monitoring Committee
    Jun 25, 2012
    We are writing to express our concerns about the facts presented in the Information Note submitted by the co-rapporteurs on Azerbaijan to the Monitoring Committee on April 25, 2012.
  • Azerbaijan: Open Letter regarding Political Prisoners
    Jun 22, 2012
    We understand that the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights is due to review the findings of the report by the Rapporteur, Christoph Strässer, on follow-up to the issue of political prisoners in Azerbaijan, on Tuesday, June 26. We are a group of organisations which are deeply concerned by the continued imprisonment of people in Azerbaijan for exercising their right to freedom of expression.
  • Azerbaijan: Retribution Against Photographer
    Jun 14, 2012
    A photographer and social media activist who photographed and exposed police violence as Azerbaijan prepared for the Eurovision Song Contest in May 2012 was detained and is facing spurious hooliganism charges.
more documents on this topic »