24 May 2012, 23:10
RWB urges Iranian government to shed light on fate of Azerbaijani poets
The international non-governmental organization "Reporters Without Borders" (RWB) has expressed its concern over the fate of Farid Gusein and Shakhriyar Gadjizade, two poets from Azerbaijan, who disappeared in Iran.
The RWB urges the Iranian government to clarify the fate of Farid Gusein and Shakhriyar Gadjizade, who disappeared in Tabriz on May 2, as quickly as possible.
According to the Azerbaijani side, the poets were invited in Iran by Bakhram Surgyun, the South Azerbaijani writer. He published in Iran the book of Farid Gusein's poetry and invited him to its presentation.
Both poets went to Iran on April 29, and on May 1, they participated in the presentation together with Iranian poets. On May 2, they arrived in Tabriz, where they were detained by a group of people in civilian clothes, who drove them away to some unknown destination. This was reported by the official website of the organization "Reporters Without Borders."
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 21, Elman Abdullaev, Spokesman of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), stated that Farid Gusein and Shakhriyar Gadjizade were detained by Iranian secret services and driven away to some unknown destination.
"However, unfortunately, the Iranian side does not even confirm the fact of the arrest and does not provide any information on whereabouts and fate of the Azerbaijan citizens," stated Elman Abdullaev.
In his turn, Ali Gasanov, Deputy Chief of the Administration of the Azerbaijani President, described actions of the Iranian side as "shameful".
