Imprisoned Activist Faces Retaliation After Open Letter Exposing Prison Conditions

Ali Zeynal

Ali Zeynal’s family fears he is being pressured after criticizing Kurdakhani detention center in a letter to Justice Minister

Ali Zeynal, the coordinator of the Institute for Democratic Initiatives and one of several detainees in the ongoing “Toplum TV case,” is suspected of facing retaliation in custody after publishing an open letter detailing unsanitary and unlawful conditions at Baku Detention Center No. 1 (Kurdakhani prison).

Zeynal’s family told Toplum TV that they are concerned for his safety after he failed to make his scheduled phone call on June 3. They believe this sudden silence may be linked to the letter he sent to Minister of Justice Farid Ahmadov, publicly criticizing the administration of the facility where he is held.

“Although June 3 was his phone call day, Ali still hasn’t called,” a family member said. “We think this is retaliation for his letter.”

Toplum TV Case and Ongoing Detentions

Zeynal is one of 10 individuals charged in what is widely seen as a politically motivated crackdown on independent media and civil society under the “Toplum TV case.”

Among those currently in pre-trial detention are:

• Alakbar Mammadli, co-founder of Toplum TV

• Journalists Mushfig Jabbar and Farid Ismayilov

• Akif Gurbanov, director of the Institute for Democratic Initiatives and spokesperson for the Third Republic Platform

• Founding member Ruslan Izzatli

• Staff members Ali Zeynal, Ramil Babayev, and Ilkin Amrahov

Journalist Elmir Abbasov has been placed under police supervision, while Shahnaz Beylarqizi was released under house arrest.

The group was initially charged with smuggling, but the charges were later escalated. All detainees deny the accusations and claim the arrests were politically driven.

Zeynal's Letter: “Your Inspectors Need to Be Inspected”

In his open letter, Ali Zeynal accuses the prison administration of ignoring complaints about inhumane conditions and describes an orchestrated cover-up ahead of a recent Ministry of Justice inspection.

“Only Cell 12 in Building II was shown to the commission. It had been renovated weeks in advance, with new cupboards and landscape pictures on the walls,” Zeynal wrote. “Had they looked at Cell 19 across the hall, they would have seen our belongings soaked in sewage, huge cockroaches, and rats coming out from under the floor. Your inspectors need to be inspected.”

He added that prison officials, including warden Elnur Ismayilov and his deputies, routinely disregard detainees’ complaints.

Zeynal also described being thrown into a punishment cell after complaining about poor ventilation in the prison transport van en route to a court hearing on April 24.

“After being dragged around by 7 or 8 officers while handcuffed, they claimed I assaulted them all by myself. I haven’t even seen the complaint,” he wrote.

Authorities Respond and Public Concern Grows

When asked for comment, Tanriverdi Mustafayev, spokesperson for the Public Relations Department of the Penitentiary Service under the Ministry of Justice, told Meydan TV that the matter would be investigated and further information would be provided.

Meanwhile, concern continues to grow over the health and safety of Zeynal and others detained in the case, especially as their public criticisms gain traction.

Fears of Retaliation and a Politically Charged Case

Ali Zeynal’s case exemplifies growing fears of retaliation against detainees who speak out. With mounting allegations of abuse and political repression tied to the “Toplum TV case,” international attention may intensify as trial proceedings continue.

All detainees maintain their innocence, asserting that their arrests are part of a broader campaign to silence dissent and independent journalism in Azerbaijan.