Yesterday (11 August), imprisoned “Azadlig” Newspaper Editor-in-Chief Ganimat Zahid was visited by his wife Ayanda Mursaliyeva in Prison #17.
Ayanda Mursaliyeva told this to the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety. “Ganimat doesn’t have any complaints about the prison conditions or the attitude of prison employees towards him. His major complaint is about health problems and pain he has,” said Mursaliyeva.
During the meeting with his wife, Ganimat Zahid expressed his opinions about an appeal to the Chief of Caucasus Muslims Department, Sheikh Islam Hajji Allahshukur Pashazade that may be presented to the president about pardoning the journalists. G. Zahidov stated that he has no intention to appeal to the Sheikh officially regarding the pardon. A. Mursaliyeva told IRFS about what G. Zahid said concerning this issue. “The entire Azerbaijani community, as well as the international community, knows that I have been arrested for something I didn't commit. The Sheikh also can intervene in this problem any time as the leader of Caucasus religious population and can be sure that I was arrested after I was slandered. If the Sheikh, as a believer, has an opportunity to protect and save one innocent person from slander, he must do it. The Sheik has great and extensive opportunity to do this. If it is possible to evaluate what I said as an appeal, then let it be,” said Ganimat Zahid.
During the meeting with his wife, Ganimat Zahid expressed his opinions about an appeal to the Chief of Caucasus Muslims Department, Sheikh Islam Hajji Allahshukur Pashazade that may be presented to the president about pardoning the journalists. G. Zahidov stated that he has no intention to appeal to the Sheikh officially regarding the pardon. A. Mursaliyeva told IRFS about what G. Zahid said concerning this issue. “The entire Azerbaijani community, as well as the international community, knows that I have been arrested for something I didn't commit. The Sheikh also can intervene in this problem any time as the leader of Caucasus religious population and can be sure that I was arrested after I was slandered. If the Sheikh, as a believer, has an opportunity to protect and save one innocent person from slander, he must do it. The Sheik has great and extensive opportunity to do this. If it is possible to evaluate what I said as an appeal, then let it be,” said Ganimat Zahid.