Ali Zeynal

Affiliated media: Toplum TV, Journalist

Incident date: October 10, 2024

Attack type:

• Non-fatal attack / beating / injury / torture

Who attacked: Authorities

Source: Turan.az

Location: Azerbaijan, Baku

Additional information:

Journalist Ali Zeynal, arrested in the Toplum TV case, was subjected to physical pressures in the Baku Court of Appeal building on 10 October, his lawyer Fariz Namazly said. Recall that Zeynal was brought to the court at 11.00 am and was held in handcuffs and standing on his feet for 1.5 hours before the hearing of his appeal against the extension of his arrest. The journalist's colleagues believe that such treatment was revenge for his speech at the previous court session on 3 October, when he said he was arrested on ‘Ilham Aliyev's order’ and did not expect ‘justice’ from the court. On 6-8 March, 9 journalists and activists from Toplum TV and its partner organisation, the Institute for Democratic Initiatives, were detained. They were accused of smuggling foreign currency. Seven were arrested and two placed under police supervision.