Journalism Pakistan
Journalism Pakistan
Even a win can't hide Pakistan's structural collapse in cricket فتح بھی پاکستان کرکٹ کے ڈھانچے کی تباہی نہیں چھپا سکتیJournalists stage walkout at post-budget briefing over government's dismissive attitude صحافیوں کا بجٹ کے بعد کی بریفنگ سے واک آؤٹ، حکومت کے توہین آمیز رویے پر احتجاجLegal storm brews as Dr. Nauman Niaz serves defamation notice on Shoaib Akhtar ڈاکٹر نعمان نیاز کی جانب سے شعیب اختر کو ہتکِ عزت کا نوٹسHRCP urges complete repeal of PECA, citing threats to free speech and civil liberties ایچ آر سی پی کا پی ای سی اے کے مکمل خاتمے کا مطالبہ، آزادی اظہار اور شہری آزادیوں کے لیے خطرہ قرارPFUJ condemns murder of journalist Syed Mohammad Shah, urges immediate justice پی ایف یو جے کا صحافی سید محمد شاہ کے قتل کی مذمت، قاتل کی فوری گرفتاری کا مطالبہState within a state? Police block reinstated Jang employees from resuming duties ریاست کے اندر ریاست؟ جنگ گروپ کے بحال شدہ ملازمین کو دفتر جانے سے روک دیا گیاMoeed Pirzada to report journalist Fakhar Durrani to FBI over alleged data theft معروف صحافی معید پیرزادہ کا فخر درانی کے خلاف ایف بی آئی کو رپورٹ کرنے کا فیصلہ

Award-winning Azeri journalist condemns state 'lies' at trial

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published September 01, 2015

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Award-winning Azeri journalist condemns state 'lies' at trial

BAKU: Award-winning Azeri investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova (pictured) Monday slammed the government's "lies" at the close of her trial on corruption charges, which opponents of strongman President Ilham Aliyev see as an attempt to muzzle independent media.

Ismayilova, who has probed the alleged vast riches amassed by Aliyev and his family, was arrested in December on charges including embezzlement and tax evasion.

Her supporters say the charges against her have been concocted by a government anxious to silence one of the few voices of independent journalism in the oil-rich former Soviet country.

Ismayilova on Monday vowed she would not be gagged, her lawyer told AFP.

In her final statement to the court, the 39-year-old journalist said prosecutors and court officials had "resorted to more and more lies and fakery," lawyer Fariz Namazly told AFP.

"All the testimony against me was received in unlawful ways, through pressure," Ismayilova accused, according to her lawyer.

"A lot of people signed their testimony without even reading it, while even some of the signatures were faked."

She vowed that even a lengthy jail sentence would not stop her from speaking out.

"They won't be able to force me to stay silent, even if they sentence me to 15 or 25 years," she said.

The judge interrupted Ismayilova mid-sentence as she began saying that she was being tried because of her investigations into high-level corruption.

"The judge cut her off, saying she was digressing," lawyer Namazly told AFP.

The judge then called a recess to begin deliberating the verdict, which is expected to be pronounced in the next few days, Namazly said.

Representatives from the embassies of Germany, the United States and Norway were present during the proceedings, but many journalists and representatives of international organizations were not granted access to the small courtroom in the capital Baku.

Namazly said he expected Ismayilova would be sentenced to seven or eight years in prison.

Rights groups accuse the government of Azerbaijan of stepping up pressure on opponents since 53-year-old Aliyev was reelected to a third term in 2013.

Earlier this month, a prominent Azeri couple that campaigns against human rights abuses was sentenced to lengthy jail terms in a case that was also decried as politically motivated. - AFP

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