Fariz Namazli

Azerbaijan: Fariz Namazli threatened by the Azeri authorities

23 October 2024

Fariz Namazli is an Azeri lawyer specialising in the defence of human rights. His practice focuses on litigation before national courts and the European Court of Human Rights. His defence of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience has led to harassment from the authorities and an attack on the exercise of his profession.

On 31 August 2024, Mr Namazli was arrested in a café with no official summons, while he was with friends. His phone was seized, and he was taken to the State Security Service (SSS). He was interrogated for more than 3 hours without being given any explanation. His telephone was finally returned to him, and he was able to leave the SSS premises at half past midnight.

Mr Namazli is the lawyer of historian Iqbal Abilov, who is being prosecuted for “treason” by the Azeri authorities. He was questioned about information linked to a criminal case he was defending, in particular about his professional activity and the ways in which it was carried out.

Because of his profession, Fariz Namazli faces many security risks. In particular, he was found by the SSS because his telephone was being monitored. He is now being harassed and intimidated by the state authorities. State authorities do not hesitate to illegally arrest people deemed to be dissidents, or to confiscate their personal belongings.

The Observatory strongly condemns the harassment suffered by Azeri lawyer Fariz Namazly.

The Observatory urges the authorities to cease the intimidation against the lawyer.

The Observatory recalls that, in accordance with the United Nations basic principles on the role of the Bar, in particular principles 16, 17 and 18:

“Governments shall ensure that lawyers (a) are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference; (…).” (Principle 16)

  “Where the security of lawyers is threatened as a result of discharging their functions, they shall be adequately safeguarded by the authorities.” (Principle 17)

“Lawyers shall not be identified with their clients or their clients’ causes as a result of discharging their functions.” (Principle 18)