AZERBAIJAN: Conscientious objector Farid Mammedov sentenced to nine months in prison

de
en

War Resisters' International has learned that conscientious objector Farid Mammedov was arrested on 8 September 2010, when his appeal against a prison sentence of nine months failed. As a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses, Farid Mammedov refuses military service for reasons of conscience.

22-year-old Farid Mammedov was sentenced on 16 July by the Baku Nasimi District Court under Criminal Code Article 321.1 to nine months imprisonment.

Azerbaijan undertook an obligation to adopt a law on conscientious objection, when it joined the Council of Europe (CE) in 2001. However, the obligation has not yet been implemented.

In August 2009, the United Nations Human Rights Committee again recommended to Azerbaijan "that a law exempting conscientious objectors from compulsory military service and providing for alternative civil service of equivalent length be adopted at an early date in compliance with article 18 of the Covenant and the Committee's General Comment No. 22" (see http://wri-irg.org/node/8396).

  • War Resisters' International calls for letters of protest to Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, and to Azerbaijani embassies abroad. A protest email can be sent at http://wri-irg.org/node/11023.
  • War Resisters' International demands the immediate release of Farid Mammedov and all other imprisoned conscientious objectors.

    • Andreas Speck
    War Resisters' International