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Taleh Bagirzade arrest

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Hundreds of people gathered on Monday in Nardaran, a Baku suburb, to protest the arrest of religious leader Tale Bagirzade. Participants in the protest chanted “Death to America”, “Death to Israel”, and “Down with corrupt officials of Azerbaijan,” according to Turan News Agency [report]. Police were present but did not intervene in the protest.

Tale Bagirzade is a well-known religious leader who on March 24, 2013 gave a sermon [video, in Azerbaijani] highly critical of the Azerbaijani government. He was detained by police on March 31 and allegedly had 1.026 g. of heroin in his possession. Bagirzade’s driver, who was also arrested, is facing weapons charges.

On April 9, Bagirzade’s home was searched. (RFERL)

On April 11, the court postponed considering that Bagirzade was tortured. (Contact) and dismissed his appeal (Contact) (Haqqin).

Highly respected Azeri journalist Khadija Ismayilova characterized Bagirzade’s arrest on social media by saying: “It has nothing to do with Iran or radical Islamists. He is popular, and he is critical of the government – this is his guilt. [...] It doesn’t matter if you are atheist or believer, graduated from Azerbaijani university or best western education center – you are a target, if you are not under government’s control.”

Bagirzade was just released from jail four months ago, after he was imprisoned for 1.5 years over a protest action in front of the Ministry of Education regarding the wearing of hijabs in public schools.

Nardaran is a town of approximately 10,000 inhabitants on the Absheron peninsula 25 km from Baku. It is a unique stronghold of devout Shia Muslims in Azerbaijan’s predominately secular society. For many years the town has been the scene of numerous protests related to religious and non-religious issues.

On April 2, he was sentenced to 2 months pretrial detention and charged under Article 234.1 (illegal possession of drugs) – 1.026 grams of heroin.

On April 18 Bagirzade’s appeal was rejected.

Shahnaz Beylergizi. İlahiyyatçı Tale Bağırzadə narkotik saxlamaqda ittiham edilir. RFE/RL Azerbaijani Service. April 1, 2013.
Shahnaz Beylergizi and Nushaba Fatullayeva. Nardaranda etiraz aksiyası keçirilib. RFE/RL Azerbaijani Service. April 1, 2013.
Nardaranda etiraz aksiyası. Contact.az. April 1, 2013.
Well-Known Cleric arrested for drug possession. Etiraz.com. April 1, 2013.
March 24, 2013 sermon [video, in Azerbaijani] by Tale Bagirzade in which he criticizes Azerbaijan government.
Tale Bagirzade’s YouTube Channel
DEVAMM (Centre in Defence of Freedom of Conscience and Religion) Statement [in Azerbaijani] on Tale Bagirzade’s arrest. April 1, 2013.
Video report [in Azerbaijani]. Obyektiv TV. April 1, 2013.
Sabunchu Court arrests Taleh Bagirzade for two months. Contact. April 2, 2013.
Action in Nardaran is postponed. Contact. April 5, 2013.
Police prevents rally in Nardaran. Contact. April 5, 2013.
Nardaranda 5 aprel aksiyası təxirə salındı. RFERL. April 5, 2013.
The staff of the Ombudsman “does not found” traces of violence on the body of Bagirzade. Contact. April 9, 2013.
Court rejects the appeal of theologian Taleh Bagirzade. Contact. April 18, 2013.


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