Today, 11 January, in the Sumgayit city Appellate Court, a decision was adopted on the appeal of Yeni Musavat newspaper column writer, Khalg newspaper’s former editor-in-chief Mahal (Sadigov) Ismayiloglu’s appeal against the verdict of the Absheron District Court. Mahal Ismayiloglu told the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS) that the appeal was not fulfilled. He said that he will file a cassation complaint after he receives the decision of the Appeallate Court.
On 27 June 2008, M. Ismayiloglu was called to a police department on the basis of a lawsuit filed against him by his neighbor Vahid Imanov’s servant. In the complaint it is alleged that the journalist beat his neighbor’s servant for dumping trash in his yard on 3 and 21 June 2008. Therefore a criminal case was instituted against M. Ismayiloglu under article 221.3 (hooliganism with use of a weapon or weapon-like item) of the Criminal Code. On 1 July 2009 the journalist was found guilty under articles 127 (intentional infliction of minor severe bodily harm), 128 (intentional infliction of minor bodily harm) and 221.3 (hooliganism with use of a weapon or weapon-like item) of the Criminal Code and was sentenced to two years conditional imprisonment. M.Ismayiloglu claims that he was slandered for his journalism work.