The European Parliament condemned the rise in the number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan
The European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the arbitrary arrests and sentences handed down to Azerbaijani scholars Bahruz Samadov and Igbal Abilov. The resolution expresses concern over the growing number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan, which, according to the European Parliament, has reached 400.
The majority of political prisoners are opposition leaders, civil society representatives, human rights activists, journalists, and academics. The resolution specifically addresses the cases of Bahruz Samadov, a doctoral student at Charles University in the Czech Republic, and Igbal Abilov, a researcher of Talysh culture. Both were arrested and convicted of treason. The European Parliament notes that the scholars' trials were held behind closed doors, in violation of international fair trial standards.
The resolution also mentions the arrest of Ali Karimli, chairman of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (APFP), on charges of attempting to seize power. The European Parliament called on Azerbaijan to respect human rights and bring its legislation into line with its international obligations, including freedom of speech and academic freedom.
