Azerbaijani youth activists Bayram Mammadov and Giyas Ibrahimov
have been in detention since 10 May falsely accused of drug possession.
They were arrested after painting political graffiti on the statue of
Heydar Aliyev, Azerbaijan’s late former president and the father of the
current president, Ilham Aliyev, on 9 May, and posting a photo of the
graffiti on Facebook.
After
being arrested for the purported drug possession, Bayram Mammadov and
Giyas Ibrahimov were only questioned by police about the graffiti. They
were tortured after they refused to sign confessions and publicly
apologise for their protest. Their lawyer, who was allowed to meet them
and saw their injuries, published a letter written by Bayram Mammadov in
which the activist described his ordeal, including severe repeated
beatings and threats of rape. On 20 May Bayram Mammadov went on hunger
strike, after the authorities refused to investigate their allegations
of torture.
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(Photo of Bayram)
