Azerbaijan
Two opposition newspaper reporters assaultedPosted Apr 6 2011
Protesters rallied in the capital city of Baku to ask for democratic reforms April 2. The government forbid demonstrations and police detained and arrested protesters as well as journalists. (AP Photo: Ilkin Huseynov)
Seymur Haziyev and Ramin Deko, journalists with the Azadlig (Freedom) newspaper, were both assaulted by unknown men in the course of two weeks.
On March 26, Haziyev said he was abducted just outside of Baku by six masked men, who tortured and threatened him.
“They brought me to a newly-built home and uncovered my head,” Haziyev said in an RFE/RL report. “Then they began dragging me in mud, also filming the whole process. They told me to live calmly as do all men in this country. They threatened me I might face more tragedies if I did not obey.”
Ramin Deko was seized by three men on April 3, who held him for eight hours, according to a Newswatch report. They suggested he join a state-run media outlet instead of Azadlig and warned him not to speak of the attack. Deko promptly reported it to the media and was beaten up the next day for doing so.
Both reporters did not go the police immediately because they believe that journalist’s cases usually remain unsolved. The Institute for Reporters Freedom and Safety (IRFS), an Azeri organization, reported that Deko has since testified with the police department.
Deko participated in the anti-government protests held in Azerbaijan on Saturday while Haziyev has been a strong critic of President Ilham Aliyev’s government.