Letter of Mrs. Piraliyeva and Mrs. Mahmudova

To the Embassies, International

organizations, human rights activists, media

Ladies and Gentlemen!

The Azerbaijani authorities claim that there is no political prisoners in Azerbaijan, but the actual daily replenish their numbers.

In August of 2012 because of religion, nationality and filed complaints about corruption inhabitants of Gusar region Lezgins Piraliyev Raghib Safarbey ogly and Mahmudov Sharafeddin Zeybulla ogly were illegally arrested. They were planted drugs and weapons although these people are devout Muslims do not drink and do not smoke, do not drink intoxicating substances and do not engage in politics. Their fault is only that they go to the mosque, do pray, wear beards, and are not engaged in corruption. They were pursued by the region administration and the police because of bearing of beard, nationality and complaints. They were threatened that they would be arrested if they do not stop complaining about corruption in Qusar Region, after which they were persecuted.

August 5-6, 2012 Piraliyev sent a complaint to the President, Prosecutor, Ministry of the National Security, Ministry of Interior, the Ombudsman and other bodies that he is threatened with arrest and prepare provocation. These days the same information he said on the “hotline” of the Interior Ministry, the Prosecutor’s Office and the “Azadlig” Radio.

August 8, 2012 the police officers planted at Piraliyev and Makhmudov’s home drugs and weapons and it “were found” by police itself in five minutes.

Is this logical when a man is waiting of provocation and writes about it everywhere, but the same time he keeps at home drugs and weapons openly?

Since their detention until now Piraliyev and Mahmudov have been tortured. They were beaten on eyes of their family members and children.

They both suffer from serious diseases, but the prison administration denies treatment. An advocate is not allowed to work, complaints from Kyurdahan prison are not sent recipients.

The case is investigating by the Department of Banditry of the Azerbaijan Interior Ministry (investigators Pashayev and Babazade). The investigation conducts unilaterally, with violations of the law.

We reiterate that R. Piraliyev Sh. Mahmudov arrested in connection with religion, nationality, and complaints about corruption and for this reason is discriminated against.

They are political prisoners – prisoners of conscience. No any crimes they committed.

All information about their case posses an advocate Javanshir Suleymanov (50-222-20-83)

Kindly ask you to check the objectivity of this statement and make a decision on inclusion of R. Piraliyev and Sh. Mahmudov in the lists of prisoners of conscience in Azerbaijan.

Piraliyeva

Mahmudova

Avaran Village, Qusar region, Azerbaijan

September 17, 2012

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