Additional Name(s): Abgul Suleymanov, Abgul Neymat oglu Suleymanov
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Azerbaijan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Shi'a
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 11 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: August/12/2011
Date of Sentencing: August/10/2012
Date of Release: September/30/2022
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Criticizing Religious Freedom Conditions Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role
Nature of Charges: Arms Trafficking & Illicit Use of Weapons Drug Trafficking & Illicit Drug Use Hate Speech Public Disorder
Abqul Suleymanov was imprisoned for criticizing religious freedom conditions.
On August 12, 2011, authorities arrested Suleymanov, a religious figure, for allegedly creating an extremist religious group without state registration, assisting a foreign state, and trying to incite mass demonstrations. Reporting indicates he was targeted for publicly opposing government policies impacting religious freedom conditions and for calling for protests. Suleymanov was charged with "illegally purchasing, transferring, selling, storing, transporting, and carrying firearms, accessories, supplies, and explosives" (Art. 228.1 ACC), "organizing actions meant to disrupt the social order or actively participating in such actions" (Art. 233 ACC), "illegally purchasing or storing without a purpose of selling narcotics or psychotropic substances in a quantity (amount) exceeding necessary for personal consumption" (Art. 234.1 ACC), and "exciting national, racial or religious hostility...with application of violence or with threat of its application" (Art. 283.2.1 ACC).
On August 10, 2012, the Baku Grave Crimes Court sentenced Suleymanov to 11 years in prison.
On January 23, 2013, the Baku Court of Appeal upheld Suleymanov's sentence.
On November 20, 2014, the Supreme Court upheld Suleymanov's sentence.
On September 30, 2022, Suleymanov was released from prison after completing his sentence.
Photo attributed to Ulviyya Guliyeva, Voice of America (VOA)
"İlahiyyatçı Abgül Süleymanov 11 il həbs müddəti bitdikdən sonra azadlığa çıxıb" Voice of America (VOA)
"List of Political Prisoners...On 10 December 2021" Institute for Peace and Democracy
"A Unified List of Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan" Working Group on a Unified List of Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan