Azerbaijan: Violence against journalists

                         Case AZE 171198

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

Brief description of the situation:

According to information received from reliable sources, on 16 November 
1998, four women journalists were beaten in Baku.  

According to the information, the police violently dispersed a group of 
journalists in front of the supreme court in Baku. Mrs. Smira Mamigdze, 
Mrs. Ilhame Mamigdze, Mrs. Zamina Alliguze and Ainur (alias) were 
injured during the clashes by members of the police.

According to Reporters sans Frontieres, the journalists were protesting 
against a suit brought by the head of the presidential administration, 
Ramiz Mekhtiyev, against the newspaper Yeni  Musavat. 

The International Secretariat expresses its grave concern about the 
aforementioned incident carried out by members of the police against 
four women who were peacefully exercising their right to freedom of 
expression.

Action requested.

Please write to the authorities of Azerbaijan urging them to:

i.  guarantee an impartial and exhaustive inquiry 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. ensure the right of  Mrs. Smira Mamigdze, Mrs. Ilhame 
    Mamigdze Mrs. Zamina Alliguze and Ainur (alias) to obtain 
    adequate compensation and reparation; 

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

  Addresses:

  H.E. Heydar Aleyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Baku, 
Azerbaijan. Fax  + 994 12 92 06 25

Mr. Ramil Uzubov, Ministry of the Interior Republic of Azerbaijan, Fax: 
+994 12 92 34 71

Mr. Eldar Hasanov, Prosecutor General, Baku, Azerbaijan. Fax  + 994 12 
92 26 63

Geneva,  17 November 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.