Ahmad Mammadli, a journalist and public activist, has been sentenced to six years in prison by Azerbaijani authorities. The Baku Court of Grave Crimes found him guilty of allegedly stabbing a person, a charge he vehemently denied. This sentencing is part of a broader crackdown on media within Azerbaijan.
Mammadli, formerly the head of the dissolved Democracy 1918 group and founder of the social media news page Yoldash Media, maintained his arrest stemmed from his journalistic work. During his final court statement, ahmad mammadli recounted his upbringing in Jalilabad, describing witnessing “illegal activities and lawlessness” alongside deteriorating social conditions. He expressed outrage at the community’s silence regarding these issues, citing land seizures, unemployment, and the disregard for villagers’ rights.
Hilal Mammadov, a Talysh human rights activist present at the trial, noted that ahmad mammadli refused to address the judge directly, instead turning to the assembled crowd. The prosecutor initially sought a nine-year sentence. Mammadli alleged severe beatings by police officers, including injuries to his eye, which were not considered by the presiding judge.
He detailed being struck with a baseball bat and subjected to smelling salts. Despite the lack of evidence, ahmad mammadli insisted the investigation failed to prove his involvement and that the presented knife lacked his fingerprints. Contradictory witness testimony, including statements from two police officers, further undermined the prosecution’s case.
Concerns were raised about coerced witness statements. This sentencing adds to a pattern of intimidation against journalists in Azerbaijan.
Topics: #mammadli #ahmad #journalist
Azerbaijan’s actions are a blatant attack on freedom of the press.