“He Deserves It”

Ulviyya Ali (Guliyeva)

Journalist Ulviyya Ali (Guliyeva), arrested in connection with the "Meydan TV case," writes from the Baku Pre-trial Detention Center where she is being held. We present the letter as is:

“The morning breaks, and Enver approaches the vent:

– How are you, Enver?

– Thank God, may you be well, what is there for us?! We are walking around…

In the six and a half months I've been incarcerated, I haven't been able to get a straight answer from Enver about how he is. He always says he's thankful for his situation.

Some inmates sentenced to up to 5 years of deprivation of liberty can, after the verdict is read, apply to work as a "household worker" ("xoz") in the prison based on their personal wish. These inmates legally receive a salary from the state. According to Enver, his salary is 340 manats. However, he took out a bank loan while free, and interest accumulated during the investigation period. The money he earns here is spent on repaying that loan.

During my time here, Enver is the only "xoz" I've seen in our block. But from what I have observed, the value of the labor he expends is not worth 340 manats. It is true that I am against putting a price on human labor, but I can say that this amount constitutes exploitation. I have spent the entire summer season in the pre-trial detention center so far. Everyone knows about the heat in Baku, and Enver worked like a bee even in the scorching heat…

As I write this, Enver has 32 days left until his release. When you read this, Enver will already be free. Enver cannot read or write. Sometimes he hands his notebook and pen to the inmates so they can write down his shop orders within the prison. I once had the desire to teach him the alphabet, but I realized it was impossible because he doesn't even have time to rest. Assuming the rest here can even be considered rest…

The inmates, including myself, cannot leave the cell, so they order him to buy groceries from the store, bring provisions from the refrigerator, and perform other chores. Sometimes we pull Enver in so many directions here that I feel guilty when I think about it. That's why if I have 5 requests during the day, I try to reduce the number to 3.

Sometimes you can see Enver eating a wrap with 4 or 5 items in his hands. This is because he can't break away from work long enough to sit down and eat normally. Inmates buy drinking water in the prison. Occasionally, you can see Enver carrying a 20-liter water container on his back while simultaneously bringing provisions to the inmates. Enver is short and doesn't have a large build; sometimes one might think the water is moving by itself. This sight makes me oddly sad. But that's not the only reason I feel sad about him. I felt the same way when I asked him the first thing he wanted to do when he got out. Because it was a wish that many might consider primitive and banal. He said he intends to eat and drink alone. When I asked him why he wanted to be alone, he replied, “I won’t have the patience to wait for everyone to gather.” He then said he wanted to stay in a hotel for two days, and I told him it was a strange wish. His answer saddened me even more. “I want someone to serve me, not me serving someone else, even if only for 2 days,” he said.

Enver is 37 years old, married, and has daughters aged 7 and 8. He was sentenced to 3 years of deprivation of liberty. I laughed when I first heard of Enver’s “crime,” but upon deeper reflection, the reason—the lack of means that led to the incident—is a separate story in itself, I believe.

Enver took scrap metal from the Military Trophy Park and sold it. He even applied to the court several times for early release, but the courts did not grant the appeal.

One of Enver’s favorite things is an e-cigarette. He saw mine once and liked it, so I gave him mine. I promised the next time I would arrange one specifically for him as a gift. There's not much else here to relieve stress…

I was able to keep my word about two weeks later. When I gave him the gift, he rejoiced like a child. Enver calls kind actions a "gesture" and appreciates them excessively. We all try to respect him and always share something interesting from our provisions with him. For example, this year I have not tasted the first pomegranate or animal product of the season without sharing it with Enver.

When he sees that I am in a bad mood, he smiles and asks, "You look somewhat down," and to cheer me up, he says, "You are our beating heart." On my birthday, as you might have seen in the media, I was not in high spirits, and Enver gifted me a lovely pen and a potted flower to cheer me up. He is so resourceful that finding these gifts in a prison environment didn't seem strange.

When I heard he had few days left until his release, I decided to write about him. Because such people are not only subjected to exploitation but their labor is ignored, leaving them in a sort of "shadow" status.

Once, when I saw Enver sitting with his hands clasped around his knees, I asked, "Are you feeling down?" He nodded, and I joked, "What do you care? You'll be out in a month. For us, it's uncertain." When he replied, "May God open your doors," I smiled and tried to console him, saying, "Ours is not a matter for God; besides, unlike us, you can walk around." He replied, "Walking around here is not the same as walking outside." It seems that as freedom approached, Enver became more impatient and yearned for it. It was impossible not to notice the sadness in his green eyes. His biggest worry is about where he will work after his release. Because, according to him, finding a job outside is even harder than finding one here…

When someone performs a "gesture" for him, Enver says, "Honestly, Enver deserves it." I hope he will have a better life in freedom, because he truly "deserves it." Forgive me my debt, Enver! (A phrase asking for absolution of any wrongdoing or burden placed on him).

I promised to share this writing after his release, and maybe Enver will never be able to read this himself, but I kept my word…”

Ulviyya Ali (Guliyeva),

Baku Pre-trial Detention Center