"Ulviyya Ali writes from detention: 'I am also a victim of one man - Ilham Aliyev'

Ulviyya Ali

If we categorize by offenses, the women here are mostly detained for fraud and drug-related offenses. In prison, the phrase "I was a victim of a man" is one of the most popular sentences among women. This sentence is constantly on the lips of most of the women I talk to.

For example, Saida is 38 years old and has married for the second time. The man she was in a civil marriage with, named Arif, was jealous and constantly tormented her. He beat her throughout their three-year relationship. Saida's relatives made her an object of blame. They also blamed her for the beatings, saying it wouldn't have happened if she hadn't divorced her first husband. Saida's reason for divorcing her first husband was his infidelity. Fearing a second divorce, the woman endured the oppression and could not speak out. Although she later complained to the police about the violence, the man was released a few hours later. She suspects that the police released him after "milking" him well. Her relatives, however, criticized the woman for complaining to the police, saying, "You are disgracing us." According to Saida, Arif was a drug addict, and even after he was imprisoned for this reason, he did not leave the woman alone. The man was released with an electronic tag after giving a bribe. After this, because Saida separated from him, Arif intercepted her, beat her, and threatened her, saying, "They will arrest me anyway, but I won't let you enjoy yourself outside." Subsequently, Saida was arrested for a drug offense, just like her former partner. There is also a strange detail in the indictment. Allegedly, Saida was selling drugs from her own number to her own number. Saida always tells this story and says, "I was a victim of a man."

Nurana, 36 years old. Nurana separated from her first husband because they did not have children. Her husband's family constantly criticized and pressured her for this reason. According to Nurana, although the doctor said the problem was with her husband, the blame was only directed at her. After the divorce, Nurana was alone for a long time. She says that as time passed, and wanting to have a child, she started living in a civil marriage with a man named Namiq. Throughout their relationship, Namiq bought Nurana expensive gifts and took her on trips. Within a short time, Namiq's behavior changed, and he began to subject Nurana to violence. Nurana left him because of this. After separating, Namiq persuaded the woman and insisted on going to the house they had lived in. On the way, Nurana recalls being forcibly put into a car by people in civilian clothes.

Currently, both Namiq and Nurana are imprisoned on fraud charges. According to Nurana, she later learned that the expensive gifts and trips were bought with money Namiq had obtained from someone through fraud. Nurana says her only mistake was allowing him to use a bank card in her name. Recently, Namiq sent her a message saying that if Nurana did not separate from him, he would tell the court that the woman was innocent. Nurana also tells her story and says, "I was a victim of a man."

Toma, 29 years old. Toma has a 7-year-old daughter. She had to divorce at 19 because her former husband's family did not accept her. Because the family was wealthy, they even managed to take her child from her. But later, she was able to regain custody of the child through a compromise. Toma was also not accepted by her own family because of her divorce. She was forced to live on the street for three months.

However, she later found a job and was able to rent an apartment. Toma, who led a very difficult life, says that after some time, she reconciled with her family. She learned that her mother had diabetes. Due to the gangrene in her mother's leg caused by the diabetes, the doctor gave her a choice: either her mother's leg must be amputated, or a large sum of money must be found for her treatment. A close male relative saw Toma's difficult situation and suggested that she smuggle drugs across the border, saying there was good money in this job.

Toma, like most women, says, "I was a victim of a man."

It is one of the monotonous days in prison. I witness a conversation between two women. I hear the same sentence again: "I was a victim of a man."

I cannot restrain myself and say: "I am also a victim of one man - Ilham Aliyev."

Ulviyya Ali, 32 years old. I think my story is known to everyone...

Note: Names in the text are fictional for security and privacy."