The wife of Polad Aslanov requested an investigation into the beating of her husband in the colony.

The wife of the imprisoned journalist Polad Aslanov appealed to the Attorney General of Azerbaijan, urging an investigation into the beating and mistreatment of her husband in correctional facility No. 15 during a hunger strike against the ban on wearing hijabs in schools.

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, declared a hunger strike in colony No. 15 in protest against the violation of the rights of schoolgirls, including his daughter and teachers who wear hijabs. On October 20, he was hospitalized in a medical facility of the Penitentiary Service; by October 26, Aslanov's weight had dropped to 43 kilograms, and the doctor warned him of the risk of coma. On October 29, the journalist's wife was denied a personal meeting with her husband, and on October 31, Polad Aslanov ended the protest due to a sharp deterioration in his health.

The wife of the imprisoned journalist Polad Aslanov, Gulmira Aslanova, appealed to the Attorney General of Azerbaijan, Kamran Aliyev, on November 13, requesting an investigation into the use of physical violence and torture against her husband in correctional facility No. 15.

In the appeal, a copy of which was provided to the correspondent of the "Caucasian Knot" by Aslanova, it is noted that on October 12, Polad Aslanov began a hunger strike, and the next day, one of the colony leaders (the name of the official is mentioned in the appeal - note from "Caucasian Knot") called him and another inmate, Zeynal Bayramov, to his office.

According to the journalist's wife, physical force was used against Aslanov there. An employee of the facility, (the name is mentioned in the appeal - note from "Caucasian Knot") allegedly twisted his arm and threw him to the floor, after which one of the facility leaders "grabbed Polad Aslanov by the chest, struck him in the face, slapped him, and insulted him."

After that, according to Aslanova, the journalist was placed in a punishment cell for five days. She stated that it was very cold in the isolation cell; despite this, her husband was given thin clothing that did not match the weather conditions. At the same time, according to Aslanova, no medical examination was conducted after the beating.

On October 15, Aslanova was transferred to the Medical Facility of the Penitentiary Service. However, as his wife notes, he continued to serve his sentence in the punishment cell there until the hunger strike ended. In total, he spent eight days in a cold room without windows and heating, Aslanova writes.

According to her, on the day of the journalist's admission to the Medical Facility, doctors found "traces of physical violence on his body, neck, and face and photographed them."

"After appeals to the Ombudsman, two staff members of the Human Rights Commissioner visited Polad Aslanov, listened to his complaints, and also took photographs. They reported that they would send the information obtained to the relevant authorities," continues the journalist's wife.

In her appeal to the Attorney General, Gulmira Aslanova requested a "comprehensive and objective investigation, to appoint a forensic medical examination to assess the state of health and document the bodily injuries" of the journalist, as well as to initiate a criminal case against the staff of the institution who used violence against him.

Aslanova informed the correspondent of the "Caucasian Knot" that she met with her husband in the Medical Facility of the Penitentiary Service on November 11.

"Polad said that three days after the hunger strike ended, they began to administer intravenous drips with vitamins B and C. After the action ended, he developed swelling in his legs and an itchy rash on his abdomen, back, and other parts of his body. However, doctors say that all this is a "normal" phenomenon in the post-hunger strike period and will pass over time. Now Polad has gained a little weight and weighs 47 kilograms, as during the hunger strike, his weight dropped from 52 kilograms to 42.3 kilograms. Polad has no complaints about the treatment in the medical facility," said G. Aslanova.

She noted that her husband maintains a good spirit and asked to convey a message to the public through social networks. Aslanova published her husband's letter on Facebook.

The journalist expressed his "respect for the schoolgirls defending the right to wear hijabs and the teachers who were removed from work due to their position."

He regrets that he could not provide them with "greater support" than conducting a hunger strike. Aslanov also thanks "independent media, human rights defenders, international organizations, and citizens who supported" the hunger strike of believers in prisons against the ban on torture. "Special words of gratitude" Aslanov addresses to "mothers who defend the right of children to education and freedom of religion," some of whom have faced criminal prosecution, arrests, and house arrest.

Aslanova also reported on the request of another imprisoned believer, Fuad Askerov, to publicize the facts of physical pressure due to the hunger strike.

"This prisoner also conducted a hunger strike in colony number 11. He was taken to the office of < (she named the name of the official - note from "Caucasian Knot"), where he was beaten, insulted, placed in a punishment cell, and then, like Polad, transferred to the Medical Facility of the Penitentiary Service," said G. Aslanova.

The woman noted that her 13-year-old daughter is still not allowed to attend classes due to the hijab and is currently busy with issues related to obtaining online education.

It was not possible to obtain comments from the Penitentiary Service and the Attorney General's Office.