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Rights defender: Ganimat Zahid says he has not undergone torture since he was arrested

14 November 2007 14:41 (UTC +04:00)

Chief of Azerbaijani Committee against Torture Elchin Behbudov today met with editor-in-chief of Azadlig newspaper Ganimat Zahid in Bayil jail #1. The rights defender told APA that Ganimat Zahid did not complain of his detention conditions and said he does not undergo pressure.
â€œGanimat Zahid is held in 8-men cell and does not complain of detention conditions. I met with him in the presence of his lawyer Osman Kazimov. We examined him and found no signs of torture. The editor-in-chief said that he has not undergone torture since he was arrested. The editor-in-chief said his arrest was ordered and did not admit his guilt. He has health problems. He can not sleep because of his joint pains. Besides, he suffers from eye pains. I will appeal to President Ilham Aliyev, Interior Minister Ramil Usubov and Prosecutor General Zakir Garalov for commutation of Ganimat Zahidâ€™s sentence,â€ he said.
Lawyer Osman Kazimov told APA that editor-in-chiefâ€™s health and detention conditions are normal, but the investigation is not being carried out.
Yasamal district court sentenced Ganimat Zahid, editor-in-chief of Azadliq newspaper, to two-month imprisonment.
Ganimat Zahid was called to Yasamal police office on November 10, due to the incident happened in front of Azerbaijan Printing House on November 10. He was detained as a suspect for 48 hours. Later Ganimat Zahid faced charges under articles 127 (deliberate causing of minor serious harm to health) and 221 (hooliganism) of the criminal code.
An appeal was filed against the decision of Yasamal district court on Ganimat Zahid yesterday. /APA/