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IN THE SPOTLIGHT
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Azerbaijani Human Rights Activist Arif Yunus Was Released on Health Grounds13 November 2015
Azerbaijani human rights activist Arif Yunus, sentenced earlier this year to a seven year prison term, was released on health grounds on 12 November. His wife, Leyla who is serving an eight and a half prison term remains in jail, being one of up to 100 political prisoners in the energy rich state, which is currently conducting a crackdown on civil society organizations working to defend human rights. Leyla Yunus is the head of the Institute for peace and Democracy in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. Her health is also poor and her lawyers have said that they will also press for her release on health grounds. Although remaining in jail, neither Leyla nor Arif Yunus have begun serving their sentences, and despite the release, the legal situation of Mr Yunus remains unchanged as he is not allowed to leave Baku. |
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