Jailed Azeri Newspaper editor receives Amnesty International Award

Eynulla Fatullayev, arrested in April 2007 following years of harassment by the authorities, was given a two-and-a-half-year sentence for libel. In October 2007, he was convicted on further charges including terrorism and his prison term was increased by six years.

Amnnesty International have chosen Eynulla to receive their annual Special Media Award which pays tribute to the courage of journalists around the world who pursue their legitimate journalistic work at great personal risk. The Special Award brings international recognition for such individual journalists and draws attention to the dangers they face.

The Amnesty International Awards ceremony took place on 3rd June 2009 in London where John Mulholland, the editor of the Observer, accepted the prize on the jailed editor’s behalf.

Kate Allen, Amnesty International UK Director said:

“The Amnesty International special award for journalism under threat recognises the work of a particularly brave journalist. People like Eynulla face constant opposition and great personal risk, simply for exercising their human right to freedom of expression and doing their job as a professional journalist,” she said.

“Amnesty calls on the authorities in Azerbaijan to release Eynulla Fatullayev immediately and to stop its attempts to stifle freedom of expression.”

Resources:
Amnesty International Eynulla Fatullayev Profile
The Guardian Newspaper article by Luke Harding 3rd June 2009