Amnesty International
Prominent human rights defenders Leyla Yunus and Arif Yunus
were convicted to eight and seven-and-a-half years, respectively, on 13
August 2015 for their human rights work. The charges against them were
fabricated and they were recognized as prisoners of conscience.
Arif Yunus and Leyla Yunus were finally released conditionally on medical grounds on 12 November and 9 December,
respectively. As part of the conditions they were placed under a travel
ban.
In
a conversation with Amnesty International on 29 February, the couple
explained that their health is worsening daily and that they are not
receiving adequate medical care in Azerbaijan. Arif Yunus suffered two
strokes in April 2014 and needs regular medical check-ups on his heart.
He has also developed a lump on his head, which could not be diagnosed
by doctors in Azerbaijan. Leyla Yunus has hepatitis C, diabetes and
urgently needs to be operated to treat gallstones. The couple said
doctors in Azerbaijan have previously refused them treatment out of fear
of reprisals from the authorities. Leyla Yunus also explained that she
has been humiliated by Azerbaijani doctors in the past whenever she
complained of her deteriorating health, with a reminder that she was “an
Armenian spy and deserved no less”.
In
February Leyla Yunus and Arif Yunus filed a request to the Court in
Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, to have their travel ban lifted on
humanitarian grounds. The Court rejected their request on 11 February
and the couple appealed the decision to the Appeals Court. The Appeals
Court will consider the case on 4 March and it can revoke the decision of the lower court and grant them the right to leave Azerbaijan for medical treatment abroad.
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