Azerbaijani Ombudsperson dismisses statements regarding Armenian detainees as baseless, biased

Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsperson) of Azerbaijan Sabina Aliyeva has regarded as baseless and biased the statements made on September 4 at a press conference in Armenia regarding the sentencing of persons of Armenian nationality convicted of war crimes against Azerbaijan, Report informs, citing the Ombudsperson's Office.

At the press conference in Armenia, "human rights defender" Siranush Sahakyan claimed that individuals of Armenian origin convicted of crimes are allegedly subjected to religious discrimination and torture in Azerbaijan, that Christian religious symbols are destroyed, the use of the Bible is banned, and prisoners are forced to read the Quran.

The Ombudsperson qualified these statements as an attempt to undermine the ongoing peace negotiations.

According to her, bringing such serious accusations without any reliable evidence contradicts the principles of human rights protection: "In particular, attempts to link issues related to individuals with religious affiliation and translate them into the plane of Christian-Muslim confrontation are absolutely unacceptable."

"Azerbaijan is a multinational and multi-confessional secular state. The country ensures an equal approach to the rights and freedoms of representatives of various religious confessions and respects their freedom of religion. To link the criminal liability established by the court with the ethnic affiliation of individuals and to present the punishment, legally imposed for the committed acts, as 'ethnic or religious persecution' is unacceptable. Criminal liability is determined not by a person's ethnic or religious affiliation, but by the nature of the committed act, the evidence collected on it, and the legal assessment of the court," the statement emphasizes.

It is noted that the National Preventive Group of the Ombudsperson conducted monitoring at various times, during which confidential meetings were held with persons of Armenian origin detained on the territory of Azerbaijan, their medical and psychological condition was assessed, and the rights and freedoms enshrined in international documents were explained to them in their native language: "During the monitoring, it was established that the rights and freedoms of these individuals are ensured at the level of international standards without any discrimination, and they are provided with access to medical care and other necessary services."

In this regard, the Ombudsperson emphasizes the need to distinguish human rights protection activities from statements serving political goals and confrontational rhetoric.

"Making such serious accusations as 'torture,' 'religious persecution,' and discrimination based on religion, without relying on verified facts, is aimed at misleading public opinion, disrupting peace negotiations, and inciting confrontation on religious grounds. Such irresponsible approaches cause particular concern against the backdrop of the ongoing peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Sustainable peace is possible not only through political and legal agreements but also by strengthening trust between societies and abandoning the rhetoric of intolerance and hatred," Sabina Aliyeva emphasized.

According to her, presenting unverified information in a religious context deepens the distrust between societies and damages the environment necessary for peace and reconciliation: "The protection of human rights does not accept the distortion of facts for political purposes and the creation of an enemy image based on religious affiliation. Individuals working in this sphere must demonstrate responsibility in their statements, rely on objective and verified facts, and refrain from rhetoric capable of damaging peace and mutual trust."