Azerbaijan, Baku, 6 March / corr. Trend K. Zarbaliyeva/ The Working Group on Human Rights consisting of the members of the Azerbaijan government and human right activists discussed the pardoning of journalists and sick prisoners. The human right activist Sahib Mammadov said to Trend on 6 March.
According to Mammadov, the meeting of the Working Group stressed that it is important to prematurely release or pardon the sick prisoners by the President through the court. Mushfig Madatov, the former head of police office and Rasim Akbarov, the national hero of Azerbaijan are amongst the prisoners who are unwell.
Human right activists recommended that Ganimat Zahid, the editor-in-chief of Azadlig newspaper,
be given a not guilty verdict. Mammadov said that the President could pardon the journalists Mirza Sakit and Eynulla Fatullayev even if they do not appeal to the President.
The regular meeting of the Working Group will be held in April.
Three journalists have been detained in Azerbaijan at present. Mirza Sakit, the employee of Azadlig newspaper has been sentenced to 3 years in jail for illegally possessing drugs, Eynulla Fatullayev, the editor-in-chief of Gundelik Azerbaijan (Daily Azerbaijan) newspaper was sentenced to 8 years imprisonment for terrorism threats and tax evasion. The trial of Ganimat Zahid who is charged with hooliganism is still ongoing.