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Interior Ministry comments on reports on torturing of Iranian citizen Hasan Faraji detained in Azerbaijan - UPDATED

Interior Ministry comments on reports on torturing of Iranian citizen Hasan Faraji detained in Azerbaijan - <span style="color: red;">UPDATED

20 November 2013 09:58 (UTC +04:00)

Spokesman for the Ministry Sadig Gozalov told APA that the reports spread by Iran’s Aran agency and some Azerbaijani media outlets that the citizen of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hasan Faraji is being tortured at the detention facility for administrative detainees in Binagadi district, Baku are groundless.

“Hasan Faraji did not complain of the detention conditions, treatment, said he had not faced pressure, torture or actions insulting his honor and dignity. I should mention that the photo claimed to be the photo of Hasan Faraji is not his, it is an attempt to misguide the readers. I also want to clarify one more issue. Before this misinformation was spread, neither human rights defender, nor his relatives appealed for meeting with Hasan Faraji. If such an appeal is made, holding of meetings will be ensured,” Gozalov said.

An incident occurred at Israeli Embassy in Azerbaijan on October 31. 31-year old citizen of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hasan Behlul Faraji, who is temporarily registered at Uzeyir Hajibeyov st. of Sabayil district, came to Israeli Embassy at Izmir st. at about 19:30. Iranian citizen attracted the attention of patrol officers for suspicious behavior. Officer of post-patrol detachment of Yasamal District Police Office, police sergeant Vusal Aghamali Mirzayev tried to detain that person. However, the Iranian citizen ignored legal requirements of the police and this caused a confrontation. Following this, Faraji was detained, taken to police station and to court. Faraji was sentenced to 30 days imprisonment.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Marzieh Afkham commented on the reports of media outlets about Hasan Faraji’s undergoing torture at a press conference on November 19: “Unfortunately, the news was disseminated that the Iranian citizen is facing torture in Azerbaijan’s jail. We regret for the dissemination of such news. If this news is true, then the Azerbaijani authorities should respond. We have connected with Iranian embassy in Azerbaijan and asked them to clarify this news with an official note. I declare that we are sensitively following this issue. Azerbaijani officials should respond soon.”