Two days ago we wrote about posters calling for Khadija's release that appeared on the streets of a northern town of Sheki. Yesterday, January 15, three men from the opposition Popular Front Party were detained in Sheki. Althought no information was provided for the reasons behind their arrest, the deputy party member Gozel Bayramli said it was because of the posters they distributed two days ago.
Today, January 16, one of the three men, Rauf Abdulrahmanov was released while Ali Abdullayev and Mubariz Abdullayev both were sentenced to 30 days.
From one political prisoner to another: a letter of courage
Seymur Hezi, journalist and now one of the 90 something political prisoners, wrote a letter from Kurdakhani where he is currently held. His cell is about 100 feet from Khadija's. In his letter he writes how proud he is of Khadija and her determination.
"Khadija Ismail is one of the greatest examples of speaking and expressing the truth. For her, there is only truth and nothing else and it is right, whatever the arguments are. It is right despite . the obstacles in front of her. She is being tested for her beliefs every single day.
I don’t know whether we owe it to extreme patriarchal state of our society or something else, when expressing the power, endeavor and bravery of a woman, our fathers have always said: “She is a woman like a man”. Today, observing a woman like Khadija, we can change this saying. In order to express the manhood and will of a man, I would say: “He is a man like the Azerbaijani woman” or more correctly: “He is a man just like Khadija”.
Khadija Ismayilova punished for her New Years letter
It has been 46 days since Khadija's arrest. Just before New Year, she sent a letter from prison wishing everyone strength, patience and determination. The prison guards at the detention facility where she is currently being held, shared no such enthusiasm. According to Ismayilova's lawyer Yalchin Imanov, Khadija was punished for this letter last week - she spent a day in a solitary confinement and the next day her cell was searched. All her notes were confiscated.
Khadija however is holding it together. She told her lawyer it wasn't terrible. "There was a tree outside the cell window and I finished a book I have been reading". She also thanked the prison management for letting her have such a beautiful view from the solitary confinement cell.
#KhadijaIsmayil #RasulJafarov #N!DA activists on the list of jailed Online Media Workers & Activists http://t.co/CUtJhdRqdy #Azerbaijan
— Arzu Geybulla (@arzugeybulla) 24.1.2015