Additional Name(s): Эльшан Аббасов

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Azerbaijan

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Shi'a

Sentence: 2 Years, 6 Months' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: March/3/2022

Date of Sentencing: August/30/2022

Current Status: Not Released

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Association Religious Belief Religious Freedom Advocacy Religious Instruction & Teaching

Nature of Charges: Drug Trafficking & Illicit Drug Use

Elshan Abbasov

Extra Bio Info:

Elshan Abbasov is imprisoned for his religious activity.

On March 3, 2022, plainclothes officers in Barda arrested Abbasov, a member of the Muslim Unity Movement (MUM).  Activists believe his arrest was tied to his religious activities, educational activities, and activism for religious freedom rights. Abbasov was charged with "illegally purchasing or storing with a view of selling, manufacturing, processing, transporting, transferring or selling of narcotics or psychotropic substances in large amount" (Art. 234.4.3 ACC).

On August 30, 2022, the Ganja Grave Crimes Court sentenced Abbasov to two years and six months in prison for "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) after lightening the original drug trafficking charge prosecutors brought forward.

Abbasov had been previously imprisoned for protesting the ban on wearing hijabs in school.

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