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Newspapers confiscated because of political cartoon
PRESS
RELEASE/ADVISORY: Newspapers confiscated because of political cartoon
Originator: Cartoonists Rights Network (CRN) Date: April 24, 2003
Country: Azerbaijan
Person: Editor Muhammed Arsoy
Target: The newspaper "Bizim Yol" (Our Way)
Source: CASCFEN Network and the BBC.
Type of violation: Paper sellers detained and questioned, newspapers
confiscated.
(CRN/IFEX) - The following is an April 24, 2003 CRN press release:
Cartoon precipitates confiscation of newspaper in Azerbaijan.
The Cartoonists Rights Network reports this article found on the CASCFEN web
site.
CASCFEN is a network of press freedom groups within Central Asia and Southern
Caucasus dealing with the problems of journalists, the press and the mass media.
Its mission is to provide assistance to press freedom groups in obtaining
information and to be actively involved in the region's issues in general.
Police Confiscate Newspaper
Posted on Tuesday, April 22 @ 12:34:19 CDT
CASCFEN - On Sunday, April 20, 2003 policemen in Nizami District of Baku,
Azerbaijan confiscated copies of the newspaper "Bizim Yol" (Our Way) from the
retailers. As told one of the sellers on day time of Sunday policemen in the
territory of Nizami District begun to stop newspaper sellers and convene them to
police station.
Some four sellers were stopped and convened to the police station where they
were questioned about the newspaper "Bizim Yol." Police asked sellers where did
they get copies of the paper, who is behind that etc. Then the copies of "Bizim
Yol" were confiscated and sellers set free. No violent behavior was observed
during this "clearance"action.
Newspaper's editor-in-chief Muhammed Arsoy told to CASCFEN that the case was
connected to the cartoon of the president Heydar Aliyev which was published on
the last issue. The cartoon describes Aliyev sitting on donkey and his son,
Ilham keeping the tail of the donkey and crying: "Dad, take me too..." But
father says: "Your English is not pure. As soon as you learn to speak pure
English I'll take you with me".
Arsoy said that the authorities are feared of the growing popularity of the
newly appeared weekly and "we're waiting other acts of the violation of our
rights".
Later on Monday, April 21, the confiscation or restriction of distribution of
the newspaper continued in other parts of the city.
CASCFEN Council Chairman Azer H. Hasret condemned the fact and called on
authorities to end with the violation of rights of free media. "In case of
continuance of such kind of behaviors we'll show our solidarity and take actions
to protect our colleagues," added Hasret.
"Bizim Yol" is newly appeared independent weekly very critical
to President Heydar Aliyev.
---------------------------------------------
Then CRN was alerted to another source for more information on the event:
From: BBC Monitoring
Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2003 6:54 AM
Subject: TCU-AZERI-PRESS-ARREST
TCU-AZERI-PRESS-ARREST
Cartoon in Azeri paper leads to arrest of news vendors
Text of Tale Asad report by Azerbaijani newspaper Yeni Musavat on 18 April
entitled "Police acts as censor"
Several vendors of Bizim Yol newspaper were arrested near the Neftcilar
underground station by employees of the Nizami district police department
[of Baku] yesterday [17 April]. In this connection, we telephoned the
police department. The duty officer answering the phone confirmed the
arrest, saying that it was connected with the "Bizim kuklalar" [Our Dolls]
cartoon published on the newspaper's back page.
To clarify the situation, we called the general secretary of the Azerbaijani
Confederation of Journalists, Azar Hasrat. He said he was aware of what had
happened: "The police have no right to confiscate newspapers or arrest
those selling them. This is, of course, arbitrariness. Only if there is a
court verdict can the police confiscate a newspaper. If someone doesn't
like a cartoon or an article in a newspaper, they should apply either to
the Press Council or to the court. Those guilty of such arbitrariness must
be punished.
Source: Yeni Musavat, Baku in Azeri 18 Apr 03 p 5
BBC Mon TCU MD1 Media 230403 cal/eb
--------------------------------------------------------
Cartoonists Rights Network condemns the confiscation of newspapers, and the
detention of legitimate news vendors simply going about their business. Acts
like these brings into question the Azerbaijani Government's intentions with
journalists and its unconvincing commitment to freedom of expression.
We are in the process of obtaining a copy of the cartoon for posting on our
Regional Web site (see below).
More Information
For further information contact Robert Russell, Executive Director, Cartoonists
Rights Network, 10600 Alison Drive, Burke, VA 22015, U.S.A., tel/fax: +1 703 250
0035, e-mail: mayte6@aol.com
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