In Azerbaijan, the situation has escalated with the arbitrary arrests of distinguished human rights defenders Bashir Suleymanli and Mammad Alpay. Suleymanli leads the Institute for Citizens’ Rights, while Alpay directs the Election Monitoring Alliance. Both were detained after police conducted raids on their homes on 14 March 2025, facing charges including forgery and abuse of power, tied to funds under investigation from the German Marshall Fund.
The arrests are not an isolated incident, but part of a broader crackdown on civil society in Azerbaijan, which has intensified since 2014. The authorities have employed intimidation through politically motivated arrests, effectively stifling voices advocating for human rights. If convicted, both men risk up to 12 years in prison, a stark reminder of the dangers faced by activists in the region.
Both Suleymanli and Alpay have consistently rejected the allegations, asserting their detention is rooted in their defence of human rights. This is not the first time Suleymanli has faced such oppression; he was previously imprisoned from 2013 to 2015 on dubious charges. Similarly, Alpay has endured cyberattacks and harassment leading up to their current detention.
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders vehemently condemns these actions, describing them as overt attempts to silence advocates for justice in Azerbaijan. They are calling for the immediate release of Suleymanli and Alpay, as well as an end to all judicial harassment against them and other defenders of human rights in the country.
To support the cause, the Observatory urges people to contact Azerbaijani authorities, advocating for the integrity and rights of activists. Writing to key figures in the government, including President Ilham Aliyev and Prosecutor General Kyamran Aliev, is essential in demanding justice and freedom for human rights defenders.
Bashir Suleymanli and Mammad Alpay, prominent human rights activists in Azerbaijan, were arbitrarily arrested on 14 March 2025, accused of various serious crimes. Their detention is seen as part of a broader crackdown on civil society, stifling dissent and advocacy for human rights in the country. The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders calls for their immediate release and an end to judicial harassment against activists in Azerbaijan.
The arbitrary arrest of Bashir Suleymanli and Mammad Alpay highlights the perilous landscape for human rights defenders in Azerbaijan. As part of a systematic repression of civil society, these actions not only threaten the individuals involved but also the broader pursuit of justice within the country. The international community must rally together to advocate for their immediate release and uphold the principles of free expression, critical for any democratic society.
Original Source: www.omct.org
