Dear friends,
We're facing an unprecedented emergency here in Azerbaijan. More than 60 people have been arrested simply because they are suspected of being LGBT.
My name is Gulnara and I'm a human rights activist in the country of Azerbaijan. I've witnessed my friends being illegally captured by the police. Many have told me about the horrendous torture they've endured, from electric shocks to traumatic "medical examinations."
What started as an attack against sex workers to address "public health concerns," quickly turned into an inexplicable and terrifying hunt for anyone who doesn't "look" heterosexual.
My group – Minority Azerbaijan – is working directly with victims to provide safe shelter and fund medical and legal costs. But in Azerbaijan, human rights groups like mine are completely on their own – we have very little funding or means of reaching people like you for help.
The situation is only getting worse here. Police are targeting people everywhere now. People are arrested at work, at clubs, and even from their homes.
Messages like, "we will find and arrest you" are being sent to LGBT people over Facebook. They’re even using dating apps to lure gay people into traps.
The horror doesn't end for those who get released. Authorities are urging landlords to evict their gay tenants, so they're out in the streets now with nowhere to go.
Much of this crackdown is illegal, under Azerbaijani law. In 2000, my country repealed its law criminalising same-sex activity. But still, we do not have any legal anti-discrimination protections.
In solidarity,
Gulnara Mehdiyeva
Minority Azerbaijan
Geen opmerkingen:
Een reactie posten