Azerbaijan Intensifies Crackdown on Religious Activists as Tarlan Sayadov Receives Prison Sentence and Launches Hunger Strike

Tarlan Sayadov

Baku, Azerbaijan – Tarlan Sayadov, a prominent member of the Muslim Unity Movement (MUM), has been sentenced to three years in prison on drug-related charges, a verdict he vehemently denies, claiming it is politically motivated. In a dramatic turn, Sayadov has since launched a dry hunger strike from Baku Pre-trial Detention Center No. 1, protesting what he describes as arbitrary police actions and intimidation tactics against the families of religious activists.

The case of Tarlan Sayadov underscores a broader pattern of increasing pressure on religious figures and activists in Azerbaijan. According to the Union for the Freedom of Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan, their updated list from June 9 indicates a significant number of individuals arrested on politically motivated grounds, with 241 of the 375 political prisoners identified as religious activists. The Muslim Unity Movement, which Sayadov is a part of, has frequently reported on the targeting of its members.

Sayadov was initially detained in March 2024. His trial concluded on July 23 at the Baku Grave Crimes Court, presided over by Judge Roman Alakbarli. He was found guilty under Article 234.1-1 of the Criminal Code, which pertains to the "illegal acquisition, storage, production, processing, transportation of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances in an amount exceeding that necessary for personal consumption, without the purpose of sale." Despite the ruling, Sayadov maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings. In his final statement to the court, he asserted, "I have only one fault, and that is my faith and conviction. Today I am being condemned for my beliefs," labelling the charges as fabricated.

The immediate catalyst for Sayadov's hunger strike was an incident on April 1, when employees of Police Department No. 14 forcibly took Khayala Gurbanova, the sister-in-law of political prisoner Samir Babayev, to the police station. There, she was reportedly subjected to an illegal interrogation and warned that other wives of prisoners from the Mashtaga area, including Sayadov's wife, would face similar treatment due to their social media activities.

Upon learning of this alleged harassment from his wife during a phone call, Tarlan Sayadov declared a dry hunger strike in written form, directly protesting the actions of the 14th Police Department. The head of the detention center, Elnur Ismayilov, was informed and met with Sayadov, subsequently notifying the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Several officials from the Ministry visited the detention center, met with Sayadov, and requested he end his strike, assuring him that the matter would be investigated. However, Sayadov firmly rejected their pleas, stating his intention to continue his "death hunger strike" until the issue is resolved on a legal basis.

Sayadov's family has expressed grave concerns for his health, noting that he suffers from severe stomach illnesses, and fear the hunger strike could prove fatal. Despite their emotional appeals for him to cease, Sayadov has remained resolute, viewing his protest as a matter of honor against perceived injustice. This ongoing situation highlights the escalating tensions between Azerbaijani authorities and religious activists, drawing further international scrutiny to human rights and religious freedoms in the country.