- Honda and Nissan to launch merger talks
- Police arrest suspect who set woman on fire in New York subway
- China vows 'cooperation' over ship linked to severed Baltic Sea cables
- Australian tennis star Purcell provisionally suspended for doping
- Luxury Western goods line Russian stores, three years into sanctions
- Wallace and Gromit return with comic warning about AI dystopia
- Philippine military says will acquire US Typhon missile system
- Afghan bread, the humble centrepiece of every meal
- Honda and Nissan expected to begin merger talks
- 'Draconian' Vietnam internet law heightens free speech fears
- Israeli women mobilise against ultra-Orthodox military exemptions
- Asian markets track Wall St rally as US inflation eases rate worries
- Tens of thousands protest in Serbian capital over fatal train station accident
- Trump vows to 'stop transgender lunacy' as a top priority
- 'Who's next?': Misinformation and online threats after US CEO slaying
- Only 12 trucks delivered food, water in North Gaza Governorate since October: Oxfam
- Langers edge Tiger and son Charlie in PNC Championship playoff
- Explosive batsman Jacobs gets New Zealand call-up for Sri Lanka series
- Holders PSG edge through on penalties in French Cup
- Daniels throw five TDs as Commanders down Eagles
- Atalanta fight back to take top spot in Serie A, Roma hit five
- Mancini admits regrets over leaving Italy for Saudi Arabia
- Run machine Ayub shines as Pakistan sweep South Africa
- Slovak PM Fico on surprise visit to Kremlin
- 'Incredible' Liverpool must stay focused: Slot
- Maresca 'absolutely happy' as title-chasing Chelsea drop points in Everton draw
- Salah happy wherever career ends after inspiring Liverpool rout
- Three and easy as Dortmund move into Bundesliga top six
- Liverpool hit Spurs for six, Man Utd embarrassed by Bournemouth
- Netanyahu vows to act with 'force, determination' against Yemen's Huthis
- Ali hat-trick helps champions Ahly crush Belouizdad
- Salah stars as rampant Liverpool hit Spurs for six
- Syria's new leader says all weapons to come under 'state control'
- 'Sonic 3' zips to top of N.America box office
- Rome's Trevi Fountain reopens to limited crowds
- Mbappe strikes as Real Madrid down Sevilla
- Pope again condemns 'cruelty' of Israeli strikes on Gaza
- Lonely this Christmas: Vendee skippers in low-key celebrations on high seas
- Troubled Man Utd humiliated by Bournemouth
- 2 US pilots shot down over Red Sea in 'friendly fire' incident: military
- Man Utd embarrassed by Bournemouth, Chelsea held at Everton
- France awaits fourth government of the year
- Death toll in Brazil bus crash rises to 41
- Odermatt stays hot to break Swiss World Cup wins record
- Neville says Rashford's career at Man Utd nearing 'inevitable ending'
- Syria's new leader vows not to negatively interfere in Lebanon
- Germany pledges security inquest after Christmas market attack
- Putin vows 'destruction' on Ukraine after Kazan drone attack
- Understated Usyk seeks recognition among boxing legends
- France awaits appointment of new government
COP host Azerbaijan jailed activists over 'critical opinions': rights body
UN climate conference host Azerbaijan has imprisoned activists and journalists merely due to their work and opposition to the authorities, the Council of Europe commissioner for human rights said in a letter published Monday.
Michael O'Flaherty, the pan-European body's top rights official, in the letter to Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev urged the immediate release of all such human rights defenders, journalists and civil society activists.
The Azerbaijan capital, Baku, is hosting the COP 29 UN climate change conference despite concerns over human rights under the rule of Aliyev, who took charge after the death of his father Heydar in 2003.
O'Flaherty said activists Akif Gurbanov and Alasgar Mammadli, arrested in March, and Imran Aliyev and Anar Mammadli, arrested in April, had been charged with foreign currency smuggling, tax evasion and forging documents.
Since 2023, more than a dozen staff and journalists of three media outlets -- Abzas Media, Kanal 13 and Toplum TV -- have been arrested on similar charges, he added.
Dated November 4, the letter was only made public now.
"I am concerned at reports that the criminal proceedings... were launched in regard to carrying out their legitimate activities," he said in the letter.
He added: "I ask the relevant authorities in Azerbaijan to immediately release all human rights defenders, journalists and civil society activists who are imprisoned for their legitimate work or for expressing dissenting or critical opinions."
He also expressed concern over reports of "ill-treatment and torture" of activists while in police custody, as well as restrictions on the right of access to a lawyer of their choice.
In its reply to O'Flaherty's letter, also published by the Council of Europe, Azerbaijan said it "rejects all allegations... without any reliable proof" that claim it does not uphold its international obligations.
It said that the activists cited by the commissioner "are accused of smuggling a large amount of funds in foreign currency" and were the target of a criminal case.
Azerbaijan is one of the 46 members of the Council of Europe.
The country has in the past been condemned by the European Court of Human Rights, which is part of the body, for violating the European Convention of Human Rights which the court upholds.
M.Carneiro--PC