Human rights defenders press for discharge of Secretary General of the Azerbaijan Chapter of the International Religious Liberty Association

Members of the Committee to Protect Rights of Ilgar Ibragimoglu, Leading Coordinator of the Centre for Protection of Conscience and Religious Freedom (DEVAMM) and Secretary General of the Azerbaijan Chapter of the International Religious Liberty Association (IRLA), call upon the public to stand up for democracy. On December 1, 2003, Ilgar Ibragimoglu was summoned to the Prosecutor General's Office to give evidence in connection with the October events, there he was arrested as a person suspected of organization of mass riots and offering resistance to the police. "He [Ilgar Ibragimoglu] has nothing to do with the October 15 and 16 events. The authorities have been displeased with his human rights activity, they have been annoyed by the popularity he has gained in Western countries as the expert, whose reports have drawn attention of the U.S. Department of State. His projects, which have remained unfinished as a result of his illegal detention, have been aimed at spreading the ideas of tolerance for the sake of peace and consent. (...) We will get him released. We call upon the public to join our struggle for the just cause," declared Ilgar Ibragimoglu's brother, Nadjaf Allakhverdiyev.

Editors note: See also the article "International organizations concerned about Azerbaijan human rights activist's fate".