Religious Activist on Hunger Strike: 'Living in Fear is Scarier Than Prison'

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Nigar Baghirova, a prominent imprisoned religious activist in Azerbaijan, has been on a hunger strike for 10 days (as of the interview), protesting the unexpected extension of her pre-trial detention. The interview was conducted by Meydan TV staffer Khayala Aghayeva, who is sharing the same cell in the Baku Investigation Isolator. Baghirova is known for her resilient spirit, often seen walking with her head held high beneath her black chadora.

Arrest and Charges

Baghirova and five other religious women were detained on August 15th after distributing Ehsan (charitable food for Imam Hussein) and chanting slogans in support of Palestine in the Binə settlement. They are currently facing serious charges, including Hooliganism (Article 221.3) and Organizing or actively participating in actions that disrupt public order (Article 233).

The Protest and Health Concerns

The group initially started the hunger strike on November 9th when their detention was extended for another two months. This extension came despite previous assurances from the Isolator's head, Elnur Ismayilov, that they would soon be released. Baghirova expressed outrage that the case had been turned into "a toy," noting the severe hardship for the women who have sick children left motherless.

While her five companions—Khoshgadam Guliyeva, Sharqiyya Sadygova (who suffers from a disability, bone decay, and was vomiting blood), Arzu Huseynova, Ayten Ibrahimova, and Shahla Farajova—have been forced to stop the strike due to critical health problems, Baghirova insists on continuing alone. She describes this solitary endurance as "a magnificent feeling," declaring her demand as: "Acquittal or Martyrdom."

She defends their decision to distribute food in the street rather than the mosque, arguing that they were focused on the general population suffering from poverty and oppression. "There are people in Binə searching for food in the trash," she stated. "Not everyone goes to the mosque. If they don't come to us, we go to them. Everywhere belongs to God."

Defiance and Philosophical Stance

Despite being weak, breathless, and frequently swallowing, Baghirova maintains her intense resolve. She says doctors checked her blood pressure and told her she could continue for another five days, which she takes as a point of humorous pride.

Baghirova believes her arrest is a political move that demonstrates the state's weakness. "Ilham Aliyev is so weak that he was afraid of six women who might incite the people to rise up and stage a coup," she asserted.

She maintains that prison is not a place of dread, but a place of "spiritual enjoyment" on the path of truth. She declares that the real horror is not incarceration: "The most terrifying thing about prison is living with fear. Living with fear is to be wretched, it is degradation!"

Regarding the prison administration, Baghirova noted that officials, including Deputy Chief Javid Gulaliyev, now avoid her. She also recalled a threat from the Isolator head to send her to the "kars" (punishment cell), to which she defiantly responded, "Let them send me and see how long I last."