Detained Religious Believers Start Hunger Strike

Four religious believers held in Baku Investigation Isolator—Sharqiyya Huseynova, Shahla Farajova, Nigar Baghirova, and Ayten Ibrahimova—have begun a hunger strike.

Arzu Abdulla mentioned that the Khazar District Court held a court hearing for the believers on November 8.

Judge Ramila Khazri was in charge of the process.

Arzu Abdulla said that each believer was brought before the judge alone.

On August 17, videos went around on social media showing police violence against six religious women giving alms in the Khazar district.

They are accused of using religious rites and ceremonies as a cover for illegal activity.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) Press Service reported the detention of Nigar Baghirova (38), Ayten Ibrahimova (41), Shahla Farajova (44), Khoshgadam Guliyeva (50), Sharqiyya Sadygova (31), and Arzu Huseynova (52), who were considered to have broken the law.

The court decided to keep them in custody for three months.

Later, the court extended their detention by two months, leading to the hunger strike.

Arzu Abdulla claims that there has been no investigation into their cases.

“So far, there has been little to no investigative process, and they have been questioned only once or twice in three months. it's hard to understand why the investigation period was extended,” Abdulla said.

According to Abdulla, authorities in the Baku Investigation Isolator told the detainees to accept the charges, admit their guilt, and apologize.