Leyla Yunus – Page 3

Imprisoned journalist Rauf Mirkadirov brough to court in handcuffs to testify in Yunus trial

Imprisoned journalist Rauf Mirkadirov brough to court in handcuffs to testify in Yunus trial Summary: 4th hearing (04 August) During proceedings, Arif Yunus suffered a serious hypertensive crisis; however the hearing was continued. During the hearing, Arif Yunus had been sitting in a glass cage, holding his head between his hands. The prosecution called its third witness, journalist Rauf Mirgadirov, who had been escorted to the court from the detention facility. A foreign correspondent for the weekly Zerkalo, Mirkadyrov was arrested on trumped-up charges of “high treason” and “spying...

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JOINT STATEMENT: Anniversary of human rights defender’s arrest marks one year of unprecedented repression in Azerbaijan

JOINT STATEMENT July 30, 2015 Anniversary of human rights defender’s arrest marks one year of unprecedented repression in Azerbaijan A year after the Azerbaijani government launched an unprecedented crackdown on human rights, the situation in the country continues to deteriorate. The Sport for Rights Coalition calls on the international community to immediately and publicly condemn the government of Azerbaijan's actions and take concrete steps to support Azerbaijani civil society. One year ago, on 30 July 2014, Azerbaijani human rights defender Leyla Yunus was arrested and charged with treason, fraud, forgery, tax evasion, and illegal...

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Tyranny stands on oppression, writes Leyla Yunus from prison

Human rights defender Leyla Yunus writes from prison: “I was not allowed to speak in court, but I want my voice to be heard. Finally, I saw Arif. For almost a year, we haven’t seen each other and I have not heard his voice. He celebrated his 60th birthday in a cell. I will also celebrate my 60th birthday in a cell. We were separated from each other on our 37th wedding anniversary, and I no longer believe that we will be able to be together...

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Prosecution’s witnesses describe Leyla Yunus as professional, committed person

Summary: the third hearing (July 28) · When court reconvened on Tuesday morning, July 28, we continued to hear from the prosecution’s witnesses. · Rena Safaraliyeva, the current head of the Transparency International Azerbaijan chapter, claims to be a victim in the case. During the cross-examination of the prosecution’s witnesses, the defense continued to challenge Safaraliyeva’s version of events. In the meantime, there has been a great deal of controversy over the legitimacy of the power of attorney given to Safaraliyeva’s lawyer – already familiar to many...

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Transparency International Azerbaijan Chapter Head testifies for the prosecution

Summary: Second Hearing during the Trial of Leyla and Arif Yunus (July 27 2015) · A witness for the prosecution, Rena Safaraliyeva, the head of the Transparency International Azerbaijani Chapter, concluded her time on the stand with a grilling from defence lawyers. Safaraliyeva, who claims to be a victim in the case, testified about the alleged damages she had suffered. Safaraliyeva failed to substantiate her claims, and some of her responses caused laughter in the courtroom. · The defence called to dismiss Rena Safaraliyeva’s lawyer, Shohrat Allahmanov, reminding...

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After year in detention, Leyla Yunus appears before court in Baku

It’s been almost a year since Azerbaijan civil society last saw human rights defender Leyla Yunus. Today she appeared in court – ill, fatigued, and kept in an isolated glass cage – on trial for the first time since she was charged with a ludicrous cocktail of crimes, ranging from tax evasion to high treason. It was also the first time she has seen her husband Arif after many months of being kept apart, detained in separate facilities. "Let me speak... It's not fair...” Leyla and Arif...