Azerbaidjan: Journalists harassed and beaten

                          Case AZE 160998

The International Secretariat of OMCT requests you  
URGENT intervention regarding the following situation in 
Azerbaijan.

Brief description of the situation:

The International Secretariat has been informed by a reliable 
source that at least one journalist named Tahir Mammadov, 
Vice-Editor of "Chag" news paper was detained and that at least 
33 journalists were harassed and beaten by the police on 
September 12, 1988, in Azerbaidjan, while they were covering 
a banned opposition rally. 

According to the information received, the police attack took 
place after the radical opposition sought  to hold a rally on this 
day in front of the editorial office of Azadliq news paper, at 
Azadliq Plaza in Baku.  The meeting announced by the 
Movement for Electoral Reform and Democratic Elections 
(SIDSUH) was prohibited by the Executive Power of Baku city.

The list of the names of the journalists beaten is available at the 
International Secretariat. 

Action requested:

Please write to the authorities of Azerbaijan urging them to:

i.  guarantee an impartial and exhaustive enquiry into these 
    facts, identify those responsible, bring them before a civil 
    competent and impartial tribunal and apply the penal, 
    civil and/or administrative sanctions provided by law;

ii. order the immediate release of Mr. Tahir Mammedov 
    if there are no valid charges against him, and if so bring 
    him immediately before a competent and impartial 
    tribunal and guarantee his due process rights at all times;

  iii.ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and 
    fundamental liberties in accordance with national laws and 
    international standards.

  Addresses

  H.E. Heydar Aleyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 
Baku, Azerbaijan. Fax  + 994 12 92 06 25
Mr. Eldar Hasanov, Prosecutor General, Baku, Azerbaijan. Fax 
 + 994 12 92 26 63

Geneva,  16 September 1998

The Human Rights Action Network, a part of Derechos Human Rights, distributes appeals on behalf of victims of human rights violations. You are invited to join the network. Please check the date of the present action and do not write if it's over a month old.