Human rights defenders meet with Interior Minister

As APA reports, the committee chairman Emin Huseynli, other members Novella Jafaroglu, Arzu Abdullayeva, Seadet Bananyarli, Ilgar Ibrahimoglu and Saida Gojamanli participated in the meeting.

The Ministry official Server Mehraliyev informed the rights defenders about Zahidov's arrest and the investigation into the case. The human rights activists asked the Minister to drop the charges against the journalist taking into account his health problems and children.

They also said the society has lost confidence in the law enforcement bodies to due to the failure to found assaulters on other journalists Baheddin Haziyev and Fikret Huseynli as well as murderers of Elmar Huseynov still remaining unpunished.

The Minister said Mirza Sakit case will be considered separately, and he will receive a light punishment.

Minister Usubov also noted 383 policemen were punished for irregularities and abuse of powers in 2006. He expressed interest in cooperation between the human rights defenders and law enforcement bodies.