TRIALS IN MAY 2021
4 May
The court sentenced the accused of aiding ISIS
Reaction of parents of convicted persons to the verdict
On 4 May the Baku Court of Serious Crimes passed verdict against a group of 11 persons accused of financing ISIS (“Tovuz case”).
The court sentenced: Samir Qurbanov to 8 years, Amin Hasanov to 7 years, Aflatun Bayramov to 7 years, Babek Mammadli to 7 years, Tehran Qasimov to 5 years, Javid Amanov, Elgun Ismayilov, Aladdin Ibishev, Yusif Imanov, Orhan Qurbanov and Shahriyar Jabbarov to 2.5 years in prison.
When the judge read out the verdict, the defendants began to beat their heads against the glass in protest. After that, the guards took them out, and the verdict was read out in the absence of the accused.
The parents of the accused were indignant at the verdict, shouting curses at the judges and those involved in the arrest of the accused.
Earlier, the state prosecutor proposed to condemn the defendants to long terms of imprisonment from nine to 18 years.
The defendants in this case were arrested several years ago on charged under the Articles 167-2.2.1 (Illegal production, import, sale or distribution of literature, religious objects and other informational materials of religious content, committed by a group of persons upon a preliminary conspiracy or by an organized group), 167-3.1 (Manufacture, storage or distribution of religious extremist materials, i.e. materials calling for the implementation of religious extremist activities or justifying such activity, either justifying the need for such activities), 214-1 (Financing of terrorism) and 218.2 (Exercises for the purpose of terrorism) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan Republic.
The trial against this group began in February 2020. However, due to the pandemic, the hearing was suspended for an extended period of time.
The trial resumed this year, and at one of the trials, the defendants inflicted cut wounds on themselves, protesting against the unjustified arrest.
The defendants have declared their non-involvement in any form of ISIS.
6 May
Acting leader of the Islamic Party of Azerbaijan sentenced to 16 years in prison
Ilham Aliyev
On 6 May 2021, the Baku Serious Crimes Court chaired by Faiq Qaniyev issued a verdict to the acting chair of the Islamic Party of Azerbaijan (IPA) Ilham Aliyev.
He was found guilty and sentenced to 16 years in prison, and his son-in-law (sister’s husband) Mehman Rzayev was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
Both were found guilty of high treason, and in particular, espionage for Iran. Aliyev was arrested on 19 February 2020.
Lawyer Javad Javadov said that the verdict would be appealed in the court of appeal.
“Ilham Aliyev denies the accusations. He does not consider himself guilty. In the materials of the criminal case, there is also no evidence confirming the accusation,” the lawyer said.
He noted that in this case, the first complaint has already been sent to the European Court of Human Rights about unlawful arrest.
IPA was established in 1991 in the village of Nardaran. In 1992, the party was registered, however, in 1995, its leader, Aliakram Aliyev, was arrested and convicted on charges of espionage for Iran, and the IPA registration was canceled.
In 2011, his successor as party chair Movsum Samadov and several other party members were sentenced to 12 years.
Since then, the post of head of the IPA has remained vacant, and in recent years, this post was taken by Ilham Aliyev.