Polad Aslanov's relatives are worried about his health condition.

The head of the website Xeberman.com, Polad Aslanov, who is serving a sentence for treason, continues his hunger strike in protest against restrictions on wearing hijabs in schools in Azerbaijan. According to his wife, Aslanov's condition has significantly worsened, and the doctor warned him of the threat of coma.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", on October 8, the convicted editor-in-chief of the online publications Xeberman.com and Press-az.com, Polad Aslanov, announced a hunger strike in colony No. 15 in protest against the violation of the rights of schoolgirls, including his daughter, and female teachers wearing hijabs. He believes that the dress code restrictions violate Article 48 of the Constitution of Azerbaijan, which guarantees freedom of conscience. On October 20, Aslanov was hospitalized in a medical facility of the Penitentiary Service, but he is not receiving medical assistance there, his wife stated.

On October 26, Polad Aslanov called his wife and reported that he was still being held in the punishment cell of the medical facility of the Penitentiary Service. The journalist also reported mistreatment in correctional facility No. 15 after resuming his hunger strike on October 12, Gülmira Aslanova told a correspondent of the “Caucasian Knot”.

“Polad began his hunger strike on October 8 in protest against the ban on wearing hijabs in schools. Then he was assured that the ban was lifted, and he stopped his hunger strike. However, on October 12, in a phone call, he learned from me that the ban was still in effect, and he resumed his hunger strike. After that, the head of Iu-15, Ramig Nasibov, began to pressure Polad, was rude to him, and Polad was placed in a punishment cell. Three days later, Polad was transferred to the medical facility of the Penitentiary Service, where he was also assigned five days in the punishment cell. Although this term has expired, Polad is still in the punishment cell,” Aslanova said.

In recent days, the journalist has been under medical supervision, according to her: his blood pressure and blood sugar levels are measured daily, and tests are taken. The journalist's weight has dropped from 52 to 43 kilograms, and he is very weak.

“His blood sugar level has sharply decreased. The doctor advised him to stop the hunger strike, as due to the drop in sugar levels, he could fall into a coma at any moment. Polad refused to stop the hunger strike. The doctor recommended that he at least drink sherbet (sweetened water) once a day, but Polad refused even that; he only consumes boiled water. His body is so weak that he cannot stand on his feet and only lies down,” the journalist's wife reported.

According to the journalist's wife, last week, Polad Aslanov was visited by staff from the ombudsman's office. The group included a doctor, but no medical examination of the journalist was conducted. "Polad was promised that on October 26 he would be taken out of the punishment cell, but I don't know if this was done. When Polad called, it was around four in the afternoon," the woman explained.

She also reported that the journalist's books and personal belongings remained in correctional facility No. 15. “All these days, Polad has been in complete information isolation. He was not even allowed to take books from the colony,” the wife added.

Gülmira Aslanova said that she asked her husband to stop the hunger strike, as the protest against the restrictions on wearing hijabs has already attracted wide public attention.

“I told him that the restrictions on wearing hijabs have resonated in the country and the world, that many express solidarity with female teachers and students in hijabs. I asked him to stop the action, as his hunger strike has also drawn attention to the issue of violations of the rights of believers. But Polad refused to stop the hunger strike. He said he intends to continue it at least until the end of October,” Aslanova stated.

She conveyed her husband's message, in which he explained the reasons for his protest. “I started this hunger strike to protect the rights of my daughter, as well as all schoolchildren deprived of the right to education due to wearing hijabs, and all our teachers who have been removed from work in schools. I do not intend to stop the action,” the wife relayed Polad Aslanov's words.

Gülmira Aslanova emphasized that she is concerned about her husband's deteriorating health and wants him to stop the hunger strike.

According to her, another believer, Zeynal Bayramov, who was also transferred from Iu-15, continues his hunger strike in the medical facility. He previously suffered a stroke and needs constant medication, but during the hunger strike, he refuses them. Additionally, according to Aslanova, another inmate, transferred from colony No. 11, is also on hunger strike. All three are held in separate punishment cells.

Aslanova also reported that their 13-year-old daughter still cannot attend classes due to her refusal to remove her hijab. Gülmira Aslanova herself remains a witness in the criminal case related to the protests against the hijab ban.

It was not possible to obtain a comment from the Penitentiary Service of Azerbaijan for the “Caucasian Knot”.

“Caucasian Knot” reported that on November 16, 2020, the court sentenced Polad Aslanov to 16 years in prison, finding him guilty of treason. The journalist's appeal was not granted, and the cassation court reduced his sentence by three years, to 13 years in prison. The convicted man's wife believes that her husband is being persecuted for covering human rights violations and the cases of political prisoners. International journalist organizations called on the Azerbaijani authorities to release Aslanov.