Another activist in prison

Having Digiturk (Turkish cable TV) block blogspot.com in Turkey just because it didn't follow through its personal distress with Google, it has become a hassle to keep my blog updated on what is happening right now in Azerbaijan. However, thats for another discussion...

Following my post on March 11th event, one of its "creators" Bakhtiyar Hajiyev was arrested. On March 4th he was called in to the police for a second time that day and that was when he was never released. According to a letter received from Hajiyev, he was beaten, tortured and threatened to be raped by one of the local police officials of Ganja. He is currently on hunger strike.

Please spread the word- all we want for Azerbaijan is democracy, justice and freedom! Don't be fooled with fake anti- corruption measures and so- called "developments" taking place in this country- this is just a cover up for all the dirty deeds of Azerbaijani authorities.

Wanted to share few links:
http://turkhan.wordpress.com/2011/03/06/bakhtiyar-hajiyev-began-death-hunger-strike-and-wants-to-meet-with-the-us-ambassador/

http://turkhan.wordpress.com/2011/03/04/note-about-jailed-activist-and-situation/

http://advocacy.globalvoicesonline.org/2011/03/04/azerbaijan-activist-arrested-questioned-over-facebook/

http://advocacy.globalvoicesonline.org/2011/03/03/azerbaijan-as-protests-loom-facebook-is-monitored/

http://www.rferl.org/content/azerbaijan_youth_activist/2328489.html

http://azerireport.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2645&Itemid=43

"Let them eat cake"

RFE/RL

We all know this famous expression from our history classes. "Qu'ils mangent de la brioche" which is the original version of this expression was supposedly said by Queen Marie Antoinette when she was told that peasants had nothing to eat. It is contested whether she actually said these words but whether she did it or not, it was the first thing that came to mind when I saw images of a cake, prepared especially for the President of Azerbaijan's 49th birthday in the country's second largest city- Ganja.

RFE/RL

The President was turning 49 and so the city of Ganja decided to prepare a birthday cake that was 49 meters long (mind you this has been continuing for the last three years with cake getting longer every year by one more meter). It took over a month of preparation and the cake weighted approximately 12 tons. The city officials refused to disclose any information on the amount spent on the cake however, it could be calculated from the amount of ingredients used for the cake (the original version of the article [AZ] can be read here).

RFE/RL

There is an image of an old lady held by the police officers trying to get her share of the cake (apparently people were not allowed anywhere near the cake but were given their shares by the police officers). Sad... But bitter reality... She is most probably, just one of the average pensioners whose life is based on the 75EUR a month and who probably is hungry pretty much most of the time... 

She might have never said it but "Let them eat cake" might as well suit these images and the attitude of the authorities in Azerbaijan toward their very own people.

RFE/RL

RFE/RL