ARRESTS IN NOVEMBER 2021

11 November

Theologian arrested for spying on Iran accused of porn blackmail

A video appeared in pro-government Internet resources in which the Shiite theologian Sardar Babayev, arrested on 19 October under the Article 274 (Treason) of the Criminal Code of the Azerbaijan Republic, secretly records the intimate relationships of other believers.

According to the text accompanying the video, Babayev sent secretly filmed footage to Iran. Subsequently, the Iranian secret services blackmailed the filmed persons and forced them to cooperate.

One such video has been posted on social media today, showing a man who is introduced as Jalal Shafiyev. Shafiyev himself called this video “immorality”, regarding it as an attempt to put pressure on theologian Sardar Babayev.

“This is base slander. Such videos are spread about Sheikh Sardar, because he does not put up with injustice, oppression, deception of the people. The arrest of Sheikh Sardar is a political order. He became a victim of repression and was arrested due to tense relations with Iran,” Shafiyev said.

According to users of social networks, today Shafiyev was detained by employees of the State Security Service.

 

15 November

Aydin Naqiyev, who protested against replace of akhund at Sadarak Trade Center’s Mosque, arrested for 15 days

Aydin Naqiyev

Aydin Naqiyev, who protested against the replacement of the akhund of the Sadarak Trade Center’s Mosque, was arrested for 15 days, the Interior Ministry’s press service said.

The conflict arose on November 12 when the mosque’s akhund, named Akram, was removed and Farid Ismayilzade appointed instead.

Then Naqiyev protested following which he was beaten by the security guards of the Sadarak Trade Center. However, an administration of the mall claims that Naqiyev injured himself and then smeared blood on his face, claiming he was beaten.

The Interior Ministry reported that the fact was investigated at the 10th branch of the Qaradag District Police Department.  After that Naqiyev was arrested under Article 535.1 (Failure to obey the police) of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Azerbaijan Republic and arrested for 15 days.

The mosque in the Sadarak Trade Center has no state registration. A question of registering the mosque is currently being resolved. After that, the appointment of the akhund and the functioning of the mosque will be regulated by the Caucasus Muslims Board and the State Committee for Work with Religious Structures.

ARRESTS IN OCTOBER 2021

19 October

Shiite theologian Ilqar Ibrahimoglu detained

Ilqar Ibrahimoglu

On 19 October 2021 was detained the head of the Center for the Protection of Freedom of Religion and Conscience and the online publication deyerler.org, Shiite theologian Ilqar Ibrahimoglu. On the evening of October 19, Ibrahimoglu told live on Facebook that law enforcement officers had come to his house and he was going there himself.  After that, he stopped communicating.

Later, human rights activist Rufat Safarov said that a search had been carried out in Ibrahimoglu’s house, and he himself was taken away by employees of the State Security Service.

In the 2000s Ibrahimoglu combined human rights work with religious activities.

After the 2003 presidential elections, when there were mass arrests of oppositionists, Ibrahimoglu also ended up in prison. However, he received a suspended sentence and was soon released.

For some time, he continued to lead the religious community of the Juma mosque in Icheri-sheher (historical part of Baku).

However, in 2005 the authorities took away the mosque from this community. Subsequently, Ibrahimoglu conducted religious sermons via the Internet.

 

20 October

Ilqar Ibrahimoglu released after interrogation at the State Security Service

Ilqar Ibrahimoglu

Shiite theologian Ilqar Ibrahimoglu was released from the State Security Service (SSS) of Azerbaijan on the night of October 20 after interrogation as a witness. He himself announced this in a live broadcast on Facebook.

«Currently I am free. I was taken from home on the evening of October 19. For several hours I was interrogated as a witness. I answered the questions of interest of the SSS officers. There were lengthy, detailed discussions. Throughout the time of my stay in the SSS there was a very professional, correct treatment. Since all the questions addressed to me were answered, I was released» – Ibrahimoglu said.

At the same time, Ibrahimoglu noted that for several days he would not have access to the phone and therefore asked not to contact him by telephone and through social networks.

However, he did not specify in what criminal case he was interrogated. Ibrahimoglu also did not say whether he would be summoned for questioning again.

The State Security Service did not disseminate reports about the interrogation of Ibrahimoglu also.

It should be noted that the detention and interrogation of Ibrahimoglu took place against the background of the aggravation of Azerbaijani-Iranian relations.

 

20 October

Five Muslim clerics detained

Five members of the public association “Spiritual Figures of Azerbaijan” – Sardar Babayev, Qadir Mammadov, Jalal Shafiyev, Ali Musayev and Tamkin Jafarov – were detained.

Note that all of them collaborated with the site maide.az. According to their relatives, they were detained on the evening of October 19 at about 16.00-17.00 by State Security Service officers. Their homes were searched, computers and phones seized.

Jalal Shafiyev and Qadir Mammadov were released early this morning; however, they were detained again a few hours later.

No comments were received from the State Security Service.

Imam of the Juma mosque in Masally, Sardar Babayev was arrested in 2017 and sentenced to three years of imprisonment on charges of violating requirements of religious ceremonies. Human rights activists recognized him as a political prisoner.

All the detainees are Shiites.

 

25 October

Believers were released after interrogations at the State Security Service

Employees of the website maide.az and members of the Spiritual Workers of Azerbaijan Association Jalal Shafiyev, Qadir Mammadov, Ali Musayev and Tamkin Jafarov, detained on October 19, have been released.

According to them, the believers were interrogated by the State Security Service. However, they themselves were not informed of the details of the case in which they were involved.

Recall that the Shiite theologian Sardar Babayev, who was also detained on October 19, was charged under Article 274 (Treason) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan Republic.

 

25 October

Police fined wedding motorcade with religious flags

Video of wedding procession with religious flags

The organizers of wedding procession with religious flags were detained in Baku, one of the participants was wanted. According to the Interior Ministry, the incident took place on 24 October in the Baku suburb of Shuvalan.

Agali Huseynzade and Agakarim Balaahmadov were detained for organizing a wedding celebration for Agaverdi Balaahmadov at his residence in violation of the quarantine regime.

In addition, a number of participants were fined 200 manats under Article 211 of the Code of Administrative Offenses for not having COVID-19 passports.

The 16 cars whose drivers committed car hooliganism were taken to the “penalty area.”

“It was also found that one of the wedding participants, Fizuli Malyev, was put on the wanted list by law enforcement authorities.  A criminal case under Article 139-1 of the Criminal Code (violation of anti-epidemic, sanitary and hygienic or quarantine regimes) was opened, the investigation is under way,” the report concluded.

It should be noted that the slogans on the multi-colored flags were Shiite.

 

25 October

The former akhund of the Haji Javad Mosque was detained

Ahliman Rustamov

Former akhund of the Haji Javad Mosque, Shiite theologian Ahliman Rustamov was detained today by employees of the State Security Service.

His son Qasim Rustamov told that his father was taken from home. At the same time, a search was carried out in the apartment and religious literature was confiscated. The family of the theologian was not explained the reason for the detention.

Several Shiite theologians have been detained in recent days. Local observers explain the detention of believers by the recent aggravated relations between Azerbaijan and Iran.

 

26 October

Former akhund of Haji Javad Mosque released

Ahliman Rustamov

 

Former akhund of the Haji Javad Mosque, Shiite theologian Ahliman Rustamov, detained on October 25, was released near midnight. This was reported by his relatives.

Rustamov was interrogated by the State Security Service. No details were reported.

 

27 October

Sardar Babayev was arrested for publishing books of Ayatollah Ali Akbar Khamenei

Sardar Babayev

The criminal charges brought against the theologian and editor-in-chief of maide.az website Sardar Babayev have been fabricated. This is said in a statement by a member of the Association of Spiritual Figures of Azerbaijan, theologian Jalal Shafiyev.

He believes that the real reason for Babayev’s arrest is the publication of speeches and books of Iran’s supreme religious leader, Ayatollah Ali Akbar Khamenei on his website maide.az.

According to Shafiyev, Sardar Babayev is the first CIS student to receive a special religious headdress personally from Khamenei.

In addition, Babayev got permission to perform certain religious duties personally from Khamenei as a mujtahid (the highest academic degree in Islam that allows one to give interpretations on matters of religion).

Jalal Shafiyev points out that Sardar Babayev was arrested due to Khamenei’s well-known statement regarding tensions in Azerbaijan-Iran relations.

Jalal Shafiyev holds that Babayev’s arrest is a step directed against Khamenei.

Note that Babayev was detained on October 19. It transpired later that he was criminally charged under Article 274 (Treason) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan Republic.

Several other Shiite theologians were briefly detained over the past week.

 

27 October

Sardar Babayev rejected treason charges

Sardar Babayev

On 27 October the Baku Court of Appeal heard a complaint against the arrest of Shiite theologian Sardar Babayev. The complaint was turned down, lawyer Javad Javadov said.

According to him, Babayev rejects treason charges put against him believing them as politically motivated.

He considers himself a victim of repression carried out due to the recent tensions with Iran.

 

27 October

It has become known about the detention of another believer

Sabuhi Salimov

The family of believer Sabuhi Salimov is concerned about his fate.

He was detained on October 20 and since then his family members cannot get any information about him. On October 20, the believer was taken from his daughter’s home in the village of Khokmeli and searched.

This was reported by Fatima Salimova, the believer’s wife.

According to her, during the search, the officers took the believer’s grandson’s cell phone, computer and tablet. In addition, the believer’s apartment in Baku was searched.

Along with Sabuhi Salimov, his son-in-law was also detained. But the latter was released.

“So far we have no information about Sabuhi. We don’t know what happened to him. He is a participant of the first Karabakh war. His health is badly undermined. A few years ago he had open heart surgery to replace four vessels. He has had heart attacks lately too due to blocked vessels. Sabuhi is very ill and unreasonable keeping him in custody could worsen his condition,” Salimova said.

According to her, the believer is not a member of any organization.

In the past, he attended the mosque “Haji Javad” in the center of Baku which was demolished as a part of the project to improve the “Sovetskaya” area.

“My husband is an ordinary believer, a patriot of his country. Last year he went to the military registration and enlistment office four times to be taken to the war. But they didn’t take him because of his health condition. He was not a member of any organization, but he always spoke up for justice and did not keep quiet when he saw that someone’s rights were violated,” Salimova said.

In recent days, several Shiite theologians and religious activists were briefly detained.

 

ARRESTS IN SEPTEMBER 2021

8 September

Two Azerbaijani citizens suspected of the involvement in religious militancy have been arrested

Mansur Jumayev (born 1980) and Nasir Jahangirov (born 1971), two Azerbaijani citizens, involved in an illegal armed formation in a foreign country, were detained and prosecuted as a result of the operational and investigative measures taken by the State Security Service (SSS).

According to the investigation, in 2011, Mansur Jumayev and Nasir Jahangirov crossed the border checkpoint in Astara to Iran to join the illegal armed groups in Pakistan. In Iran, they, with the help of a fellow traveler whose identity has not been verified, illegally entered Pakistan where they took part in combat operations as members of the unit under the command of a certain Salahaddin.

In this connection, Mansur Jumayev and Nasir Jahangirov were charged under the Article 12.1, 279.1 279.1 (Creation of armed formations or groups, which are not provided by the legislation of the Azerbaijan Republic) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan, and the Court imposed a preventive measure in the form of arrest.

 

ARRESTS IN AUGUST 2021

24 August

20 years later the police detained “Imam Mehdi”

Aqil Babayev

Police detained Aqil Babayev who for more than 20 years by fraud appropriated citizens’ money claiming to be the messiah – Imam Mehdi.

Note that he was detained as a result of operational and investigative measures taken by officers of the Main Department for Combating Organized Crime under the Ministry of Internal Affairs on the complaint of citizens, the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported.

It should be emphasized that his victims were at least 50 gullible citizens who for many years paid tens of thousands of manats to “Imam” in order to “atone” for their sins and ensure a prosperous afterlife.

The “Imam” assured his victims that he spent the collected money to help the poor. Babayev also did not shun the appropriation of money given to support the families of martyrs.

At the same time, all these years Babayev led a luxurious life, purchased several expensive apartments and cars. Also, an additional investigation revealed that he humiliated and committed violence against persons under his command.

A criminal case has been initiated against Babayev under Article 178.3.2 (Fraud, causing major damage) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan Republic. By court decision, he was arrested.

ARRESTS IN JULY 2021

7 July

Muslim Unity Movement activist detained

Razi Humbatov

On 7 July 2021, a member of the Muslim Unity Movement (MUM) Razi Humbatov was detained by several people in civilian clothes in the Jeyranbatan village of the Absheron region. They put him in a car and took away in an unknown direction. According to the MUM, the reason for the arrest was most likely Humbatov’s publications on social networks. The attempts to get comments in the Ministry of Internal Affairs were futile.

 

9 July

Muslim Unity activist accused of drug trafficking

Razi Humbatov

According to the lawyer Javad Javadov, a member of the Muslim Unity Movement, public activist Razi Humbatov was charged under the Article 234.4.3 (Illegal drug trafficking) of the Criminal Code of the Azerbaijan Republic. He was arrested by the decision of the Narimanov District Court of Baku.

At the same time, the lawyer has not yet managed to meet with his client.

“Now I am preparing a complaint in the order of judicial supervision over the detention of Humbatov, and an appeal will be filed against the decision to arrest,” Javadov said.

Razi Humbatov was detained on July 7 in the village of Jeyranbatan. According to the NGO “Line of Defense”, Razi Humbatov was taken to the Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and was tortured there.

 

12 July

Defense challenged the arrest of a religious activist

Razi Humbatov

The lawyer Javad Javadov has been filed an appeal against the arrest of an activist of the Muslim Unity Movement (MUM) Razi Humbatov.

The lawyer filed a complaint against the detention of Razi Humbatov, which, according to the defense, was accompanied by violations of the law, through judicial review.

After being detained on 7 July in the village of Jeyranbatan, Humbatov had no opportunity to contact his relatives, to invite the desired lawyer.

In addition, family members in the police did not give information about the place of his detention, although, as it turned out on 8 July, the Baku City Narimanov District Court chose a preventive measure against him in the form of arrest in connection with the charge brought under the Article 234.4.3 (Drug trafficking on a large scale) of the Criminal Code of the Azerbaijan Republic. Under this article, he faces a sentence of imprisonment for up to 12 years.

Humbatov has already been transferred to the pre-trial detention center of the Penitentiary Service. The lawyer, however, has not yet been able to meet with him.

The investigation is ongoing in the Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The MUM believes that the arrest of Humbatov is because of his criticizing the authorities on social networks, as well as an active fight against the spread of drugs among young people,” the organization said.

 

ARRESTS IN JUNE 2021

18 June

The State Security Service reported on the detention in Ukraine of a suspect in the Syrian war

Mirahad Mirismayilli

According to the report of the Azerbaijani State Security Service (SSS), as a result of joint operative-searching measures of special services of Azerbaijan and Ukraine, 42-year-old Mirahad Mirismayilli was detained and extradited to Baku. He is charged with participating in combat operations in Syria as a member of illegal armed groups.

According to the public relations department of the SSS, the investigation established that M.Mirismayilli went to Syria on 20 June 2013 where he was actively involved, together with other Azerbaijani citizens, in the activities of the  “Jund ash-Sham” criminal group which operated under the leadership of Aqil Hajiyev.

He was charged under Articles 12.1, 279.1 (Participation in illegal activities as part of an illegal armed group abroad) of the Criminal Code of the Azerbaijan Republic.

It should be added that “under a court decision he has been arrested as a preventive measure. In his testimony, he confessed to the crime. Operational and investigative measures are under way in the criminal case, “the press release says.

 

ARRESTS IN MAY 2021

5 May

The head of the “Muslim Unity” Movement Elchin Qasimly detained

According to the information of the executive director of the non-governmental organization “Line of Protection” Rufat Safarov, on 5 May 2021 the chairman of the board of the “Muslim Unity” Movement (DME) Elchin Qasimly was arrested.

On 5 May at 21.00, Qasimly should be a guest of the “Azerbaijan Hour” program of the Turan TV satellite TV channel broadcasting from abroad.

“Since there was no Internet in Qasimly’s house in the Mashtagha settlement, he was going to go to the city. However, it was not possible to establish contact with him at 21.00. Later it became known that Qasimly was detained while leaving his house. The place and reasons for the arrest of Qasimly are not known, ”Safarov said.

Elchin Qasimly was arrested in 2015 and sentenced to 15 years in prison in the Nardaran case. However, in March 2019, he was released in accordance with a presidential pardon order.

 

7 May

Two Azerbaijanis arrested for participation in Taliban Detachments

                               Yahya Mammadov                                                 Elnur Jabiyev

The State Security Service (SSS) announced the detention of Azerbaijani citizens, 44-year-old Yahya Mammadov and 36-year-old Elnur Jabiyev for participating in illegal armed formations of the Taliban movement.

Mammadov and Jabiyev left Azerbaijan in 2010, moved to Iran and from there illegally entered Pakistan, where they joined the illegal armed group Salahaddin of the Taliban Movement in North Waziristan and Urugzai provinces of Pakistan, press release of the State Security Service.

Both were charged as defendants in a criminal case initiated by the State Security Service under the Article 12.1, 279.1 (Participation in illegal armed groups outside Azerbaijan) of the Criminal Code of the Azerbaijan Republic.

A preventive measure in the form of arrest was chosen against them.

 

24 May

ISIS member is arrested

Orhan Jamalov

According to the report of the Azerbaijani State Security Service (SSS), was arrested 35-year-old Orhan Jamalov, involved as part of ISIS.

Orhan Jamalov was prosecuted under the Articles of the Criminal Code of the Azerbaijan Republic:  12.1, 218.2 (Participation in a criminal community) and 283-1.3 (Participation in groups, exercises or armed conflicts created under the guise of spreading religious confessions, performing religious rituals or with the aim of getting involved in armed conflicts, occurring outside Azerbaijan, on the basis of religious enmity, religious radicalism or religious fanaticism).

The SSS said that based on the information received that the citizen of Azerbaijan Orhan Jamalov left the country in 2014 and joined the armed group of the terrorist organization ISIS in Syria, and also carried out activities as part of this illegal formation, were carried out promptly – investigative measures:

“Earlier, Orhan Jamalov was convicted for possession of hand grenades and cartridges of various calibers. He planned to commit terrorist acts on the territory of the country.

After his release, Orhan Jamalov, at the invitation and with the help of Shamil, nicknamed “Khanzala”, went to Turkey in August 2014, and from there illegally through the territory of Syria to Raqqa. “Belonging to the terrorist organization ISIS, participation in exercises and armed conflicts as part of this criminal group.”

Orhan Jamalov’s family members and his lawyer have not yet expressed their attitude towards the arrest.

 

 

ARRESTS IN MARCH 2021

9 March

The Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers Report on Arrests and Detentions in 2020

According to the report provided by the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers, in 2020, it was initiated 11 criminal proceedings against the individuals engaged in illegal religious propaganda. A document circulated in the media, it was noted that 28 people had been subjected to the administrative penalties including two individuals who had been administratively arrested during that period. A total of 627 units of religious literature, brochures, magazines, booklets, 249 audio and video discs and other religious items had been found at their property and confiscated.