Prosecutor General’s Office, Interior Ministry, State Security Service issues statement on arrest of Faiq Amirov

Azerbaijan’s Prosecutor General’s Office, Interior Ministry, and State Security Service has issued a statement on the arrest of Faiq Amirov, assistant to APFP chairman and broadcasting director of the Azadlig newspaper, APA reports.

The Prosecutor General’s Office, the Interior Ministry, and the State Security Service created an investigative group on August 12 in order to investigate and prevent the illegal acts of the Hizmet movement inspired by US-based Turkish preacher Fethullah Gulen aimed at promoting Gulen’s ideas and spreading social and religious hatred in Azerbaijan, the statement says.

The house dwelled by Fuad Ahmadli, who works at the call center of Azerfon LLC and chairs the  APFP youth organization in Khatai district, has been inspected as part of the investigation into the illegal acts of employees of mobile communication companies operating in Azerbaijan. As a result, a variety of pieces of evidence—including, recordings of Gulen’s speeches, various documents about the groups called “Gulen cemaati” and “Hizmet imamlari”, books, etc. on Gulen ideas—were discovered in the house. Experts of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations concluded that these materials promote social and religious animosity and hatred as well as degradation of national dignity.

Fuad Ahmadli’s case, due to similarities in content, was submitted to the Prosecutor General’s Office to be merged in a common proceedings.

As part of the ongoing investigation, another APFP member Faiq Amirov, who is an assistant to the party chairman, was found guilty of abusing his official powers as financial director of the “Azadliq” newspaper, storing and spreading books and electronic data on Gulen’s ideas, and having links with the group called “Hizmet imamlari”. For this reason, his house and car were searched with the participation of his wide as well as other witnesses and Azadliq newspaper employee Tazakhan Miralamli.

During the search, three books dedicated to Gulen, eight discs containing Gulen’s sermons were found from the car, and two plastic bags with invoices of Azadliq newspaper, electronic data and other items were found from the house.

Faiq Amirov is charged under articles 168.1 (Encroachment of citizens rights on pretext of commitment of religious activities) and 283.2.2 (Excitation of national, racial or religious hostilityby person with use of the service position) and has been sentenced to pre-trial detention.

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