Rights concerns shadow Eurovision in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan police on Thursday detained around 30 opposition activists who staged a protest in Baku which is hosting the Eurovision Song Contest. The protesters were detained at the opposition rally attended by scores of people outside the state television station which is the Azerbaijani partner for Eurovision broadcasts. Rights concerns shadow Eurovision in Azerbaijan "Thirty to 35 people were detained," Public Chamber opposition alliance Spokeswoman Leila Mustafayeva told AFP. Among those arrested were two women holding a placards saying "We want public TV, not Ilham TV" - a reference to Azerbaijan's strongman President Ilham Aliyev, whose activities and speeches dominate news broadcasts in the country. The Public Chamber said in a statement posted on Facebook that four opposition politicians were also detained in the morning as they left their homes ahead of the protest, adding that one had subsequently been released, AFP has reported. Rights activist Fuad Hassanov who was monitoring the protest called the police reaction typical. "I'm not surprised because this is the usual life of the activists," he said, adding that protesters were simply trying to "express their right to freedom of assembly." Human rights activists in Azerbaijan have decided to use the Eurovision Song Contest to draw media attention to the repression in the former Soviet republic. The opposition accuses the Aliyev dynasty that has ruled Azerbaijan almost since the fall of the Soviet Union of clamping down on dissent and public protests, and of jailing political opponents on trumped-up charges. Taking advantage of the unprecedented influx of foreign media to the capital Baku, activists are using tactics ranging from rallies to hunger strikes to draw attention to their cause, AFP says. “For the first time in Europe, people have used Eurovision as a tool to try to resolve problems linked to human rights," leading Azerbaijani rights campaigner and youth protest organizer Rasul Jafarov told AFP. Wearing a T-shirt with the slogan "Sing for Democracy", Jafarov, 27, said he had asked one of the favorites, Sweden's Loreen, to talk about rights during her appearance. The Sing for Democracy movement, an alliance of groups and individual bloggers and journalists, plans several peaceful "walking" protests in Baku during the contest while the media spotlight is on Azerbaijan. The authorities have brushed off the opposition's actions, simply saying it lacks support. "We have an opposition but it is small, it is weak, what can we do about this?" said parliament's Social Policy Committee Chairman Hadi Rajabli. However, some activists are resorting to more drastic tactics, AFP reports. In a ramshackle suburb of Baku, a group of six men sat on beds reading newspapers and chatting, a national flag pinned on the wall along with photos of political prisoners. The protest was taking place in the headquarters of the country's main liberal opposition party, Musavat. "It's good that foreign journalists are coming and are interested," said activist Oktay Lygenderei, but added he feared that "after Eurovision, mass arrests may begin." Musavat is part of an opposition alliance called the Public Chamber that has held two rallies this month broken up by police. It plans another unsanctioned demonstration Thursday outside the television centre. Max Tucker of Amnesty International, which counts 17 prisoners of conscience in Azerbaijan, travelled to Baku to rally media interest but warned of a possible backlash. "The thing Amnesty International is extremely concerned about is after Eurovision finishes," he stressed. "This is a rare opportunity but unfortunately it's not going to happen afterwards. When the Eurovision song contest ends, the government will go after all the critics. I'm absolutely sure," said award-winning Radio Liberty journalist Khadija Ismayilova, who had been digging into the Aliyevs' business involvement in the new Eurovision venue the Crystal Hall. A view of the Baku Crystal Hall (Beta) Tanjug

Rights concerns shadow Eurovision in Azerbaijan

"Thirty to 35 people were detained," Public Chamber opposition alliance Spokeswoman Leila Mustafayeva told AFP.

Among those arrested were two women holding a placards saying "We want public TV, not Ilham TV" - a reference to Azerbaijan's strongman President Ilham Aliyev, whose activities and speeches dominate news broadcasts in the country.

The Public Chamber said in a statement posted on Facebook that four opposition politicians were also detained in the morning as they left their homes ahead of the protest, adding that one had subsequently been released, AFP has reported.

Rights activist Fuad Hassanov who was monitoring the protest called the police reaction typical.

"I'm not surprised because this is the usual life of the activists," he said, adding that protesters were simply trying to "express their right to freedom of assembly."

Human rights activists in Azerbaijan have decided to use the Eurovision Song Contest to draw media attention to the repression in the former Soviet republic.

The opposition accuses the Aliyev dynasty that has ruled Azerbaijan almost since the fall of the Soviet Union of clamping down on dissent and public protests, and of jailing political opponents on trumped-up charges.

Taking advantage of the unprecedented influx of foreign media to the capital Baku, activists are using tactics ranging from rallies to hunger strikes to draw attention to their cause, AFP says.

“For the first time in Europe, people have used Eurovision as a tool to try to resolve problems linked to human rights," leading Azerbaijani rights campaigner and youth protest organizer Rasul Jafarov told AFP.

Wearing a T-shirt with the slogan "Sing for Democracy", Jafarov, 27, said he had asked one of the favorites, Sweden's Loreen, to talk about rights during her appearance.

The Sing for Democracy movement, an alliance of groups and individual bloggers and journalists, plans several peaceful "walking" protests in Baku during the contest while the media spotlight is on Azerbaijan.

The authorities have brushed off the opposition's actions, simply saying it lacks support.

"We have an opposition but it is small, it is weak, what can we do about this?" said parliament's Social Policy Committee Chairman Hadi Rajabli.

However, some activists are resorting to more drastic tactics, AFP reports.

In a ramshackle suburb of Baku, a group of six men sat on beds reading newspapers and chatting, a national flag pinned on the wall along with photos of political prisoners. The protest was taking place in the headquarters of the country's main liberal opposition party, Musavat.

"It's good that foreign journalists are coming and are interested," said activist Oktay Lygenderei, but added he feared that "after Eurovision, mass arrests may begin."

Musavat is part of an opposition alliance called the Public Chamber that has held two rallies this month broken up by police. It plans another unsanctioned demonstration Thursday outside the television centre.

Max Tucker of Amnesty International, which counts 17 prisoners of conscience in Azerbaijan, travelled to Baku to rally media interest but warned of a possible backlash.

"The thing Amnesty International is extremely concerned about is after Eurovision finishes," he stressed.

"This is a rare opportunity but unfortunately it's not going to happen afterwards. When the Eurovision song contest ends, the government will go after all the critics. I'm absolutely sure," said award-winning Radio Liberty journalist Khadija Ismayilova, who had been digging into the Aliyevs' business involvement in the new Eurovision venue the Crystal Hall.