Person accused of joining radical group and attempting to start military struggle: "For the first time I heard about jihad from Gamet Suleymanov in Abu Bakr mosque" - UPDATED

25.12.08

10:00

Hearing on the case of former officer of Azerbaijani Army Kamran Asadov and 19 others continued in the Court of Grave Crimes. APA reports that judge Islam Neymanov presided over the process. Defendants Rovshan Abdulaliyev and Shirvani Babayev gave testimonies. Abdulaliyev said he had no criminal relations with the defendants. He said he had attended iftar meal in Kamran Babayev’s house together with his family and spoke about the party held there on October 6-7.

"Kamran Asadov was on leave from military service. He asked us why we did not do armed jihad, fight against infidels in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Kamran Babayev said there was no need for it in Azerbaijan," he said.

Following this, Abdulaliyev answered questions of the prosecutor and judge. The defendant said he was in Iran on May 14-17, 2005.
"I wanted to leave Iran for Pakistan, and then go to Afghanistan and struggle against infidels together with the Talibans. I returned, since I could not cross the border. After getting married I understood that way was wrong," he said.

Kamran Asadov interrupted him and said he had gone to the military service to do jihad and punish the infidels.
Shirvani Babayev said he did not agree to the accusations brought against him and armed jihad.

"My religious brothers advised me to leave home, as my parents did not pray. I said I could not do it. I have not contacted with these persons since the beginning of 2007. We have had cool relations since then," he said.

The hearing will continue tomorrow.

Kamran Asadov, Bakhtiyar Orujov, Farid Jabbarov, Elshan Mammadov, Kamran Babayev, Samir Mehbaliyev, Terlan Karimov, Edgar Aliyev, Ramil Karimov, Shirvani Babayev, Samir Aliyev, Yalchin Maharramov, Orkhan ALizadeh, Hajibala Huseynov, Azer Ibadov, Shahriyar Mehraliyev, Ramin Jalilov, Rovshan Abdulaliyev, Ilkin Ismayilov and Vugar Aliyev are accused of setting up a radical religious group, attempting to start military struggle, attacking on LUKoil petrol station in Baku, preparing terror attack on the U.S. and UK embassies in Azerbaijan.

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24.12.08

15:05

Hearing on the case of former officer of Azerbaijani Army Kamran Asadov and 19 others was held in the Sourt of Grave Crimes. APA reports that judge Islam Neymanov presided over the process. Defendant Terlan Karimov petitioned for refusing his lawyer Yaver Huseyn. The court granted the petition.

Following this, defendant Samir Aliyev gave testimony. He said he had known the other defendants since 2007. Aliyev did not agree to the accusations shown in the criminal case and said he had seen Kamran Asadov only once, in the house of other defendant Kamran Babayev on October 21, 2007. Samir Aliyev said he had attended the meeting in Babayev’s house in "Elektrotok" settlement for planning the crime mentioned in the indictment, but did not join the common talks.

He said he did not support jihad in Azerbaijan. Later Samir Aliyev answered the questions of the prosecutor, judge and lawyers. Samir Aliyev said he did not admit the accusations concerning jihad.

"Jihad is mentioned in most ayats of the Koran and it makes up the main part of Islam. For the first time I heard about jihad from Haji Gamet Suleymanov in Abu Bakr mosque. If this is the problem, ask him about it," he said.

Samir Aliyev’s lawyer and prosecutor had a conflict in the hearing. The lawyer said the inspector had carried out biased investigation.

The hearing will continue in the second half of the day.

Kamran Asadov, Bakhtiyar Orujov, Farid Jabbarov, Elshan Mammadov, Kamran Babayev, Samir Mehbaliyev, Terlan Karimov, Edgar Aliyev, Ramil Karimov, Shirvani Babayev, Samir Aliyev, Yalchin Maharramov, Orkhan ALizadeh, Hajibala Huseynov, Azer Ibadov, Shahriyar Mehraliyev, Ramin Jalilov, Rovshan Abdulaliyev, Ilkin Ismayilov and Vugar Aliyev are accused of setting up a radical religious group, attempting to start military struggle, attacking on LUKoil petrol station in Baku, preparing terror attack on the U.S. and UK embassies in Azerbaijan.

/APA/