Jailed Reporter Hafiz Babalı Reports Health Crisis, Blocked Legal Access

Hafiz Babalı

Hafiz Babalı, an investigative reporter serving a nine-year term in Azerbaijan, says his health is quickly getting worse. He also claims prison officials are stopping him from accessing his legal rights.

A message on Babalı’s Facebook page on December 4 said he has severe leg symptoms, like bruising, redness, and open sores. The prison doctor agreed his condition was serious and needs quick medical care. But there's been no outside confirmation from the Penitentiary Service.

Babalı is also worried about his ability to defend himself legally. In a public message on November 24 to the Justice Minister and the Ombudsman, he said Penitentiary Institution No. 2 has been illegally refusing to mail his court appeals since November 6.

These appeals are about defamation lawsuits Babalı wants to file against pro-government media. He says these outlets have been smearing him with serious, but unproven, accusations such as illegal financing, ordered articles, and anti-state activity. Babalı is demanding that these officials prove their claims in court or be held criminally liable for slander.

Abzas Media Case Background

Babalı was arrested in December 2023 as part of the Abzas Media case. On June 20, 2025, the Baku Court on Grave Crimes gave verdicts to Babalı and his workmates. Babalı, along with Abzas Media Director Ülvi Həsənli, Chief Editor Sevinc Vaqifqızı, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist Fərid Mehralızadə, each received nine-year prison sentences. Other journalists, Nərgiz Absalamova and Elnarə Qasımova, got eight-year sentences, and Abzas Media coordinator Məhəmməd Kekalov got 7 years and 6 months.

The journalists were hit with charges that include smuggling. They say that the arrests were because of their investigative work. International media and human rights groups have criticized the case. They see the Abzas Media case as an attempt to silence free media in Azerbaijan. About 30 journalists have been arrested in the country in the past two years, mostly on what people think are politically motivated charges, something government officials deny.

The Baku Court of Appeal agreed with the sentences on September 9, 2025. As of now, neither the Penitentiary Service nor the Ombudsman's office has commented on the claims of health negligence or blocked legal mail.Jailed Reporter Hafiz Babalı Reports Health Crisis, Blocked Legal Access

Hafiz Babalı, an investigative reporter serving a nine-year term in Azerbaijan, says his health is quickly getting worse. He also claims prison officials are stopping him from accessing his legal rights.

A message on Babalı’s Facebook page on December 4 said he has severe leg symptoms, like bruising, redness, and open sores. The prison doctor agreed his condition was serious and needs quick medical care. But there's been no outside confirmation from the Penitentiary Service.

Babalı is also worried about his ability to defend himself legally. In a public message on November 24 to the Justice Minister and the Ombudsman, he said Penitentiary Institution No. 2 has been illegally refusing to mail his court appeals since November 6.

These appeals are about defamation lawsuits Babalı wants to file against pro-government media. He says these outlets have been smearing him with serious, but unproven, accusations such as illegal financing, ordered articles, and anti-state activity. Babalı is demanding that these officials prove their claims in court or be held criminally liable for slander.

Abzas Media Case Background

Babalı was arrested in December 2023 as part of the Abzas Media case. On June 20, 2025, the Baku Court on Grave Crimes gave verdicts to Babalı and his workmates. Babalı, along with Abzas Media Director Ülvi Həsənli, Chief Editor Sevinc Vaqifqızı, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist Fərid Mehralızadə, each received nine-year prison sentences. Other journalists, Nərgiz Absalamova and Elnarə Qasımova, got eight-year sentences, and Abzas Media coordinator Məhəmməd Kekalov got 7 years and 6 months.

The journalists were hit with charges that include smuggling. They say that the arrests were because of their investigative work. International media and human rights groups have criticized the case. They see the Abzas Media case as an attempt to silence free media in Azerbaijan. About 30 journalists have been arrested in the country in the past two years, mostly on what people think are politically motivated charges, something government officials deny.

The Baku Court of Appeal agreed with the sentences on September 9, 2025. As of now, neither the Penitentiary Service nor the Ombudsman's office has commented on the claims of health negligence or blocked legal mail.