Azerbaijan
Harassment Continues for Journalist and FamilyPosted Nov 1 2007
Hakim Eldostu Mehdiyev and his family continue to struggle after Mehdiyev was beaten and imprisoned last month by law enforcement officers for his journalistic work, and his family's businesse were demolished.
On Oct. 23, Elkhan Mehdiyev, his brother, traveled to Turkey by car. In Turkey, Sadarak Customs Checkpoint officials searched his car for narcotics. After the hour-long search netted nothing, the officals apologized and told E. Mehdiyev that their Azeri border colleagues informed them he had narcotics in his car. This happened after his car was searched in Azerbaijan and nothing was found, the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS) reports.
The Mehdiyev family continues to be threatened and have little means to survive. H. Mehdiyev has already appealed to the government to stop this treatment, but nothing has happened. He stated that he will appeal once again, but through the press this time, and if nothing transpires he will be forced to renounce his citizenship and leave the country.
Stay tuned for te next issue of Global Journalist for a personal account from H. Mehdiyev.