MEPs condemn journalist murder in Azerbaijan

PanARMENIAN.Net - During a plenary session on human rights, members of the European Parliament strongly condemned the murder of Rafig Tagi, a prominent Azerbaijani writer and journalist, and express their concern over the safety of Samir Sadagatoglu, the editor of the Sanat newspaper.

MEPs said they welcome the move by the Azerbaijani government to set up a special working group to investigate the murder of Rafiq Tagi and call on the Azerbaijan authorities to ensure that the investigation is thorough and effective, and that perpetrators are prosecuted and brought to justice in a trial which meets international fair trial standards. At the same time, Azerbaijani authorities must to do their utmost to protect the life and safety of Samir Sadagatoglu, they said.

MEPs finally insist that threats and incitement to violence against individuals expressing views deemed ‘offensive’ by some adherents of religions and beliefs systems are "totally unacceptable", that those responsible for such threats and incitement must be prosecuted, and that the freedom of expression and safety of the threatened individuals must be fully guaranteed.