Azerbaijan, the land where parents denounce their children: Thank you Mr. President! You have done your job here!

Just when you think it cannot get any more worse, this [AZ] happens. Allow to explain for those who do not understand and speak Azerbaijani. Gunel Movlud is an Azerbaijani writer. She has an incredible talent for nailing down the right words in her writing. She is smart. She is also an editor of Meydan TV, media outlet started by a former political prisoner himself, Emin Milli. In the last few months, Meydan TV faced a number of issues with the government- its journalists were persecuted, several of them questioned at the grave crimes unit. One of Meydan TV journalists was thrown into 30 day administrative detention for allegedly "swearing at the police". 

Gunel's story is unique however. Based outside of Azerbaijan she has continued her work from afar. Some two weeks ago two of her older brothers were arrested at the same time in two different towns. They are charged with drug charges and are facing possible 3-5 years of jail time if convicted. 

Yesterday [October 21], Gunel Movlud's mother Shofkat Shafiyeva told BBC Azeri service she is denouncing her daughter. "If my daughter won't denounce Meydan TV, then I am denouncing her" said the mother to BBC Azeri service. 

But Gunel Movlud is determined to continue her work and she has not intentions of stopping her cooperating with Meydan TV. 

On her Facebook status right after her brother's arrest she wrote the following: 

"Friends, I do not want to talk much about what has happened. Even a child would understand these arrests are targeting Meydan TV. They don't want anyone to work with Meydan. They are using relatives to pressure. But I won't give up my work with Meydan TV, or with Emin [Milli]. I will not distance myself from the people who work with Meydan. The arrest of my two brothers left my parents who are both battling with their health to death. Yes, I am afraid, of my family, my child, of my family getting ruined this way, of my life, of the life of my relatives. They can do anything. I am afraid and fear is absolutely normal. But I will continue my work even if I am afraid. This is not a sign of some bravery. It is just I cannot see myself live a different life. It has been a long time since I have completely removed the "and" in "life and activity/work" without even knowing it. Those who cannot keep silent will continue to speak up. With love to all people with dignity!"

Banning film screenings in Azerbaijan

We have reached the point in Azerbaijan where anything remotely touching the topic of people's struggle and human rights, is unwelcome. On April 6, a group of plain-clothed "officers" showed [RU] up at the hotel in the southern region of Azerbaijan, Lenkoran where the Caucadoc project (Caucasus Documentary Filmmaking) was screening the documentary films from Ireland, China, Ukraine, and Romania. 

This project is funded by the Eastern Partnership Culture Program and the films were already screened in Armenia and Georgia as Regnum reports. 

It is obvious that someone "ordered" the plain clothed men to storm the hotel. Who? Well, most likely the local administrative office on orders of someone certainly very "important" sitting in Baku. 

The lucky number seven

The male vs. female equality is a topic widely debated not only in Azerbaijan but in many countries across the world. We do not question the reality of what if we actually were not born just because we were a boy or a girl or our parents made that decision for us. Imagine that your life abruptly ended somewhere down the first few weeks. It is hard to imagine, because it didn't happen to many of us but we should not forget about so many lives of tiny, helpless, little human beings that are ended just because their parents or elders or uncles and brothers chose to do so because they are simply the male figure, because they can.

This is an article I wrote recently for Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso on selective abortion in Azerbaijan. It makes me wonder how many lives were ended, do you?

Azerbaijan Seven Sons and One Daughter

Blackmailing at its best- the case of Khadija Ismayil (UPDATED see links below)

While I am posting this days after the letter is sent, I still wanted to share this important document, signed by MEPs at the European Parliament, addressing the recent blackmailing scandal against well known Azerbaijani investigative journalist, Khadija Ismayil.

Khadija received a package at her home address in Baku on the International Women's Day (surely this was no coincidence but further attempt to humiliate this person). The package contained photos of intimate nature and a threat note with inappropriate language- if Khadija was not to immediately give an end to her work as a journalist she was to face heavy consequences.

Here is the full letter addressing this incident and the reaction of the Parliament.

With Eurovision so close, such threats only illustrate Azerbaijan's attitude to "ensuring" freedom of expression in this country. It should come as no surprise, but perhaps, this would give those who advocate for Azerbaijan being a true democracy a gist of what is going on beneath the glitz and glam of it all. But then again... It all depends on who is judging...

European Parliament Letter to the President of Azerbaijan

Amnesty International "Azerbaijan: Secret sex video used to smear investigative journalist"
Global Voices Online "Azerbaijan: Investigative Journalist Defiant After Blackmail Threat"
The Independent "Sex video used to blackmail Azerbaijani journalist"