On September 10, Masalli Regional Court sentenced the editor of a pro-religion xeber44.com website Araz Guliyev to two months of pre-trial detention, editor’s brother Azer Guliyev reported to the IRFS.
Masalli is a district in the Southern Azerbaijan, close to Iranian border. The website, xeber44.com reports on the issues, related to Islam.
According to Azer Guliyev, his brother is charged under Article 221.2.1 of the Criminal Code (hooliganism). He was arrested at a religious followers’ protest against the international folklore festival held in Masalli.
According to Interior Ministry report, on September 8 Araz Guliyev and Rza Agali tried to disrupt the event related to international folklore festival in Masalli, as a result two Masalli residents and a policeman were injured, and windows of a car were smashed.
“Araz Guliyev was carrying out his professional duty at that protest, where religious followers demanded the organizers to respect the national mentality and stop the disco and half-nuked dances, which took place as part of the event held in connection with the folklore festival. Neither Araz, nor the religious people violated the laws. They did not commit hooliganism. On the contrary, the police committed hooliganism against them”.
According to Azer Guliyev, his brother was arrested for covering the protests against hijab ban in Masalli region.
He added that his brother was brutally beaten by police during the arrest. “After being tortured in the Police Office, the health of Araz Guliyev and other detainees deteriorated, and the frightened police twice called ambulance”.
According to Azer Guliyev, his brother is charged under Article 221.2.1 of the Criminal Code (hooliganism). He was arrested at a religious followers’ protest against the international folklore festival held in Masalli.
According to Interior Ministry report, on September 8 Araz Guliyev and Rza Agali tried to disrupt the event related to international folklore festival in Masalli, as a result two Masalli residents and a policeman were injured, and windows of a car were smashed.
“Araz Guliyev was carrying out his professional duty at that protest, where religious followers demanded the organizers to respect the national mentality and stop the disco and half-nuked dances, which took place as part of the event held in connection with the folklore festival. Neither Araz, nor the religious people violated the laws. They did not commit hooliganism. On the contrary, the police committed hooliganism against them”.
According to Azer Guliyev, his brother was arrested for covering the protests against hijab ban in Masalli region.
He added that his brother was brutally beaten by police during the arrest. “After being tortured in the Police Office, the health of Araz Guliyev and other detainees deteriorated, and the frightened police twice called ambulance”.
Araz Guliyev is currently held in Kurdakhani investigative prison and has not been provided with a lawyer.