Today, 20 May, in the Baku Appellate Court, under the Chairmanship of Judge Aygun Abdullayeva, a hearing took place on the appeal of the Azeri bureau of “Radio Liberty against the decision of the Yasamal District Court on the lawsuit of “Abu Bakr” Mosque Imam Gamet Suleymanov against “Radio Liberty.”
On 15 December 2008 the Yasamal District Court Judge Abbas Bagirov issued a decision to partially fulfill the lawsuit of Gamet Suleymanov. According to the decision, “Radio Liberty” had to publish a refutation on its website.
Media Rights Institute Lawyer, authoritative representative of “Radio Liberty” Fariz Namazli and Suleymanov’s representative Rashad Mammadov participated in the hearing.
F. Namazli said that “Abu Bakr” Mosque Imam Gamet Suleymanov’s honor and dignity was not been damaged in the article published on the Radio Liberty’s web site. Radio Liberty asked in its appeal that the decision of the Yasamal District Court regarding the publication of a refutation by Radio Liberty be annulled and that the Appellate Court adopt a decision the Suleymanov be required to compensate Radio Liberty for legal expenses that resulted from this case.
Rashad Mammadov asked the judge to uphold the decision of the Yasamal District Court.
Judge A. Bayramova upheld the decision of the Yasamal District Court.
G. Suleymanov appealed to the Yasamal District court after an article entitled “Who are the Havaris?” was published on the website of “Radio Liberty,” claiming that the article was damaging to the interests of the “Abu Bakr” mosque and demanded that “Radio Liberty” publish a refutation on the website and pay 50,000 AZN compensation. The Court issued a decision to partially fulfill the lawsuit of Gamet Suleymanov. According to the decision, “Radio Liberty” had to publish a refutation on its website.