Six Shia Muslim women in Azerbaijan have been placed under three months of pre-trial detention, accused of organizing a protest “disguised” as a religious gathering.
The arrests reportedly took place on 14 August, as the women were distributing alms in honor of Arba’in, the day observed 40 days after Ashura, which commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
According to the pro-government outlet Report, a court ordered the detention of the six women on Monday.
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Independent platform Meydan TV revealed that one of the detainees, Shahla Farajova, was brought home by police while they conducted a search. Quoting the Telegram channel Ar-Rad Info, the report alleged that officers turned off security cameras in her neighborhood and planted items in her home, including a bottle of methamphetamine and a flash drive inscribed with “Ya Husayn” — a phrase deeply significant in Shia Islam.
The detentions have drawn criticism from Taleh Baghirzada, the jailed leader of the Muslim Unity Movement, who is currently serving a sentence over charges of inciting hatred and attempting to overthrow the government.
“The future of this country begins with unlawful arrests and defamation,” Baghirzada said in a statement shared on Facebook.
Baghirzada was previously sentenced after violent police raids in Baku’s Nardaran district in 2015, where seven people, including two police officers, lost their lives.
