Jailed religious activist placed in punishment cell after protest

Mansur Velishov

A jailed Azerbaijani religious activist has been placed in solitary confinement after protesting against the alleged beating of a sick inmate, according to his family and rights advocates.

Mansur Velishov, who is serving a six-year sentence at the Lankaran Penitentiary Complex, was disciplined after failing to make a scheduled phone call to his family on 20 July.

His family said hotline officials at the Penitentiary Service confirmed Velishov had been moved to a punishment cell for "violating internal rules", but refused to provide specific details.

Rights defender Arzu Abdulla, speaking on behalf of the family, said relatives believe Velishov was targeted after objecting to the physical abuse of an unwell fellow prisoner.

His family fears authorities are using disciplinary measures as a pretext to transfer him to a closed-type facility at the Umbakı Penitentiary Complex.

Velishov was arrested in March 2023 by police officers in Imishli and subsequently convicted by the Lankaran Serious Crimes Court on large-scale drug production and trafficking charges. He denies all charges, maintaining that he is being targeted solely because of his religious beliefs.

Human rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns over the imprisonment of religious figures in Azerbaijan. According to a 2026 report by the Union for Freedom of Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan, 182 religious believers are currently classified as political prisoners, many of whom are Shia Muslims convicted on drug charges.

Azerbaijani authorities reject the claims, stating that individuals are prosecuted for criminal offences rather than their religious activities.