Ombudsman: Accusations of the Armenian human rights defender are groundless and biased

Azerbaijan's Commissioner for Human Rights Sabina Aliyeva characterized as groundless and biased the statements made on September 4 at a press conference in Armenia regarding the sentencing of individuals of Armenian nationality found guilty of war crimes against Azerbaijan.

This was reported by the Ombudsman's Office.

At the press conference in Armenia, "human rights defender" Siranush Sahakyan claimed that individuals of Armenian origin convicted for committed crimes are allegedly subjected to religious discrimination and torture in Azerbaijan, that Christian religious symbols are being destroyed, the use of the Bible is prohibited, and prisoners are forced to read the Quran.

The Ombudsman characterized these statements as an attempt to undermine the ongoing peace negotiations.

According to her, making such serious accusations without any credible evidence contradicts the principles of human rights protection:

"In particular, attempts to link issues related to specific individuals with religious affiliation and shift them into the realm of Christian-Muslim confrontation are absolutely unacceptable."

"Azerbaijan is a multiethnic and multi-confessional secular state. The country ensures equal treatment of the rights and freedoms of representatives of various religious confessions and respects their freedom of religion. Linking criminal liability established by a court with the ethnic affiliation of individuals and presenting punishment lawfully imposed for committed acts as 'ethnic or religious persecution' is unacceptable. Criminal liability is determined not by the ethnic or religious affiliation of a person, but by the nature of the committed act, the evidence gathered on it, and the legal assessment of the court," the statement emphasizes.

It is noted that the Ombudsman's National Preventive Group conducted monitoring visits at various times, during which confidential meetings were held with persons of Armenian origin held on the territory of Azerbaijan, their medical and psychological condition was assessed, and the rights and freedoms enshrined in international documents were explained to them in their native language: "During the monitoring visits conducted, it was established that the rights and freedoms of the said persons are ensured at the level of international standards without any discrimination, and they are provided with access to medical care and other necessary services."

In this regard, the Ombudsman emphasizes the need to distinguish human rights protection activities from statements serving political purposes and confrontational rhetoric.

"Making such grave accusations as 'torture,' 'religious persecution,' and discrimination on religious grounds, without relying on verified facts, is aimed at misleading public opinion, derailing peace negotiations, and inciting confrontation on religious grounds. Such irresponsible approaches are of particular concern against the backdrop of the ongoing peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Sustainable peace is possible not only through political and legal agreements but also through building trust between societies and rejecting the rhetoric of intolerance and hatred," Sabina Aliyeva stressed.

According to her, presenting unverified information in a religious context deepens distrust between societies and damages the environment necessary for peace and reconciliation: "Human rights protection does not accept the distortion of facts for political purposes and the creation of an enemy image based on religious affiliation. Individuals working in this field must demonstrate responsibility in their statements, rely on objective and verified facts, and refrain from rhetoric that could harm peace and mutual trust."