Constant insults and tortures of the head of the Institute for Peace
and Democracy, consistent fighter for human rights, the well-known human
rights activist Leyla Yunus, continue to amaze and disturb. Does all
this shame and medieval punishment occur in the country, claiming the
creation of a state of law, the owner of the forthcoming European games,
the country Presiding the Committee of Ministers of the Council of
Europe, a member of the UN Security Council?
From history we know that such ill-treatment was in Stalin’s camps
with people declared “enemies of the people.” However, the then regime
“legitimized” such treatment, including torture, beatings of prisoners,
the use of “decoy” for the individual pressure – all of this was
reflected in the regulations, orders and instructions of the “people” of
the Interior. By the way, the survivors, investigators, prison guards,
the NKVD workers of the Stalinist regime, were subject to serious
punishment for the torture of prisoners. Judges, who passed illegal
sentences, were convicted themselves. Another part of them was punished
by fate. The disturbed balance between crime and punishment was
restored, though very small.
The coming to power of uneducated, illiterate, random people who
cannot draw lessons from history, is leading the country to disaster.
We’re going through such a tragedy. It seems that the authorities like
to see the mutilated leg bruises of Leyla Yunus, forgetting not only
humanity, but also the responsibility before the law and Allah.
What do you want to achieve, demonstrating the power over a woman?
The laws adopted by you prohibit to place in one camera with
criminals a person who was jailed for the first time, and whose guilt
has not been proved. Does the court authorizing the arrest of Yunus,
decided on her placing in the same cell with Nurida Huseynova? Not
Leila, and any woman , a citizen of the country, an Azeri woman, mother
is beaten, insulted and humiliated in the cell. Where are the
principles of humanism approved by you? Where are traditions and
national mentality so frequently mentioned by you?
It seems that you have forgotten even the most basic human values. The
was time when Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and his entourage did the
same. Shahinshah allowed waste, injustice, used petrodollars on
pompous events, for which he was criticized by believers. Assuming for a
humiliating for himself to give interview in the Iranian press, he
instructed his prime minister, Amir Abbas Huveyda to state in press and
declare: “We have the money, we can spend it as we want, and who does
not want to see it, let him close his eyes.”
Just three months after these words the eyes of the Iranian people
opened, but there was no one to close eyes of Mohammed Reza dying in
an airplane.
I wonder why the dictators of modern times forget the bitter fate of
their predecessors? However, it would be fair to note that Shah in any
case showed aristocratism towards women, and Farah Khanum also
supported such behavior of Shah.
So bitter journey through history began with mutilated bruised legs
of Leyla Yunus. Today the international community wants to protect her,
and to free her from the torment and despotism of the authorities. The
authorities of the country, the territory of which is under occupation
for 20 years, is looking for high treason in the noble deeds of a
fragile woman, but forgets about corruption or bribery, that has seized
the country.
No one wants to understand that a betrayal of the country whose
territory is occupied is the appropriation of surface and underground
resources. This is the reality of Azerbaijan – on the one hand the
luxurious life of the ruling elite, on the other – sick, legs of Leyla
Yunus covered with bruises.
Jamil Hasanli
