03 June 2013, 14:02
Azerbaijan: protesters against the ban on hijabs in schools convicted in Baku
On Monday, the Nariman District Court in Baku sentenced six believers, who were arrested for taking part in the action against the ban on hijabs in schools, to the terms ranging from one year and nine months to six years in prison.
Advocates of the convicted Elshad Rzaev, Ramil Veliev, Vakhid Lyalyakshiev, Elchin Mamedov, Arif Fataliev and Ramil Mekhtiev disagreed with the verdict and said that they would appeal against it. In particular, the lawyer Anar Gasymov pointed to the incorrect presentation in the indictment of believers as "religious fanatics." According to his story, a "religious fanatic" is not a legal category, but a purely subjective view; therefore, this concept should not be used to justify the prosecution of citizens.
Let us remind you that in November 2010 the Ministry of Education of Azerbaijan banned schoolgirls' attending schools in hijabs, since the Muslim headscarf is not an element of the school uniform. The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on October 5, 2012, in the capital of Azerbaijan, about 200 believers held a protest against the ban on wearing hijabs in schools. During the unsanctioned rally held in front of the Ministry of Education, which grew into protesters' clashes with the police, according to the Baku City Prosecutor's Office and the Chief of Police, 65 people were detained.
On April 22, eight of them were sentenced to the terms from five to six years of imprisonment; and on May 20 ten more of them were sentenced to prison terms ranging from one and a half to two years.
Author: Faik Medzhid Source: CK correspondent
