Ridiculous ban

Azerbaijan's government has again prevented Ilgar Ibrahimoglu, head of the religious community Juma and a human rights advocate, from going abroad. He has not been able to go to Geneva where he planned to make a report on the situation with religious freedom in Azerbaijan to the UN Commission on Human Rights. It is the fifth time the authorities have prevented the rights advocate from going abroad since 2004. Ilgar Ibrahimoglu was given a suspended sentence of 4.5 years in prison for taking part in mass upheavals in Baku on 15-16 October 2003. However, a suspended sentence does not restrict freedom of movement, but only binds one to inform about changing their residence. The human rights defender notified the authorities of an official invitation to take part in the work of the UN Commission on Human Rights in advance, but border service officials have told him they have orders to prevent him from going abroad.

In his comment on the situation, Ilgar Ibrahimoglu said, "It is a great pity to ascertain the government still fails to honour its human rights commitments. My report will be delivered by my lawyers at the meeting of the Commission all the same. The illegal ban on my going abroad will make a separate subject for discussion at the meeting. Unfortunately, this will worsen our nation's international image, which is negative enough without that. The short-sightedness of the officials is striking though. They are absolutely indifferent towards the nation's human rights and democracy dynamics."

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More about Azerbaijan:

• Human Rights Practices in Azerbaijan - 2004