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Letters from an Azerbaijan Jail
Years active: 2014-2015
IWPR presents a series of letters written by political prisoners in Azerbaijan. More and more leading human rights defenders, opposition party members and independent journalists are being arrested, tried and jailed for a range of ostensibly non-political offences – a tactic which allows the authorities to insist both that there is no political motivation and that the individuals concerned are common criminals. Prosecutions are designed to discredit those accused personally and government critics more generally.
These letters will show that independent thinking carries on even when people are locked away, and to focus wider international attention on the state of civil and political liberties in Azerbaijan.
Shafi's Story
Political prisoner tells the life story of a young cellmate who spent his teenage years living homeless on the streets of Baku.
Prison Trains and Black Marias in Azerbaijan
Defendants spend a lot of time shuttling between court hearings and detention centres.
A Flag of Many Colours
LGBT activist's suicide a year ago can be seen as an act of courage in a world of hypocrisy.
Someone Like Khadija
Jailed reporter Seymur Hezi realises he is in the same Azerbaijani prison as top female journalist Khadija Ismayil.
Arbeit Macht Frei
Political prisoner deemed “workshy” as pretext for turning down his application for release.
Let Hope Never Die
Political prisoner meets an innocent abroad.
Bluff and Nonsense in Prison
A political prisoner reflects on psychology and power relationships among his fellow inmates.
Torture by TV
An Azerbaijani opposition figure reflects on the quality of state TV seen from inside a detention cell.