The European Federation of Journalists and the International Federation of Journalists issued a statement expressing deep indignation at the death of Rasim Aliyev, Contact.az reports.“The climate of impunity for violent acts against journalists and human rights defenders in Azerbaijan may encourage some individuals to commit such grave crimes without being punished. Journalists, like every citizen, in Azerbaijan must be free to share their personal comments on social networks without fear of receiving threats from anybody. The country must also stop its permanent prosecution against journalists and release all of them in order to decrease the current tensions,” said Mogens Blicher Bjerregård, EFJ President.
The statement also called for measures to release the arrested journalists, and stop pressure against them.
The Institute for Reporters’ Freedom also condemned the murder, considering the result of an unprecented government pressure.
“Rasim Aliyev’s murder took place amidst the backdrop of a crushing, unbearable human rights situation in Azerbaijan. Since mid-2014, the government has stopped the work of all independent non-governmental organizations and confiscated their property, and thrown countless human rights defenders who are critical of the government behind bars,” it says in a statement referring further to other acts of persecution against journalist and human rights activists in the country (including Khadija Ismayilova, Leyla and Arif Yunus etc).
“Human rights defenders, journalists, dissidents, and even representatives of international governmental organization and diplomatic missions in Azerbaijan operate in under pervasive, increasingly intrusive surveillance. One day prior to Rasim Aliyev’s murder, Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Communications revealed plans to propose legislation that will increase government control and surveillance over online apps such as WhatsApp and Skype, and to require online social networks such as Facebook and Twitter to maintain databases of Azerbaijan-based users which the government has access to. Through Rasim Aliyev’s murder the Azerbaijan government will further attempt to justify all-encompassing internet surveillance and regulation,” reads the organization’s call.