Amnesty International has expressed concern about an opposition member in Azerbaijan who was arrested after calling for an anti-government protest on Facebook.

The rights group says 20-year-old student Jabbar Savalan was arrested on February 5 after he called for an Egypt-style rally in a central Baku square on the social network website.

Savalan is a member of the opposition Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, which is a youth organization.

Before his arrest, he had posted an article critical of Azerbaijan's president that originated in a Turkish newspaper. He also participated in an anti-government protest in January.

Savalan's lawyer said authorities arrested him and searched him without giving a reason. Savalan was later charged with possession of drugs.

The French news agency reports that an appeals court in Azerbaijan ruled Wednesday that he must remain in detention pending trial on the drug charges. It reports the interior ministry has denied that the case has any connection with politics.

Azerbaijan has a history of harassing and jailing journalists and bloggers critical of the government.

Amnesty International says authorities summoned another member of the opposition Azerbaijan Popular Front Party on February 9 to question him about posts he had made on Facebook, calling young people to action after Savalan's arrest, VOA News reported.