Azeri detainee Rustam speaks out after his release from Baku prison

In an exclusive interview with Divine Just State, Rustam Gasimli, an Azeri member of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, has broken his silence following his recent release from his unjust imprisonment in Binagadi Temporary Detention Center Baku, Azerbaijan. His testimony sheds light on the ordeal he and fellow member, Nariman Shabanzade, endured while distributing brochures peacefully in Baku on July 23, 2024.

Gasimli recounts how their peaceful outreach efforts, streamed live on TikTok, took a dark turn when police officers abruptly intervened. "They approached us and said, 'Don't distribute brochures, you can't.' When we asked for a reason, they simply repeated, 'You can't,' without any explanation." Their repeated inquiries were met with hostility. The situation escalated when one officer forcefully grabbed Gasimli by the neck, separating him from Shabanzade. Shortly after, several more officers arrived. Gasimli and Shabanzade were dragged into a nearby building, where the officers began a brutal assault before transporting them to the police station. "In the entrance of the building, six or seven officers beat us," Gasimli recounted. "They cursed us, hit us with the brochures we were distributing, and continued to assault us while bystanders looked on in fear, unable to intervene." The beating continued for approximately 10-15 minutes until the police car arrived. Gasimli and Shabanzade were then forcibly placed in the vehicle, where they were subjected to further threats, insults, and physical abuse.

Rustam Gasimli's teeth were knocked out by the punch of the police officer

Upon arriving at the police station, Gasimli describes an even more horrifying scenario. "As soon as we were brought in, additional officers were waiting. In the chief's office, 13 to 15 officers beat us relentlessly for 30 to 40 minutes," he said. The violence intensified as officers targeted their faces, heads, and legs, with some even attempting to force brochures into their mouths. "My tooth was broken, and the chief himself trampled on me, pressing his foot on my throat and stomach, and even on my genitals, causing my testicles to swell, which remains painful to this day." The abuse didn’t stop there. Gasimli and Shabanzade were further humiliated when a baton was forcibly inserted into Gasimli's backside. "They cursed us with vile language, and as their anger grew, so did their violence," Gasimli said, noting that Shabanzade was coerced into participating in the abuse but refused. For this, they were beaten again.

Additionally to enduring hours of abuse, Gasimli and Shabanzade were denied basic human rights. They were kept in a cramped, isolated cell without food for a day, and only given water every four hours. To compound their suffering, false charges were filed against them. "They accused us of unrelated crimes, and warned us that if we continued our peaceful outreach, we would face even harsher penalties and further torture."

The legal process offered little reprieve. According to Gasimli, they were hidden from their lawyer and families, shuttled between police stations, and ultimately brought before a judge under dubious circumstances. "They told us that if we didn't complain, they would only fine us. But we insisted that we would report the violence," Gasimli said. Despite presenting their injuries as evidence and pleading for an investigation into police misconduct, their pleas fell on deaf ears. The judge dismissed their claims, refused to review surveillance footage, and relied on false testimony from an officer who was not present during the beatings. Gasimli's personal circumstances, including his responsibility for four dependents, a 40-day-old child, and mentally ill mother and grandmother, were also ignored. "We reported that we were innocently subjected to torture, but it didn’t matter. None of our requests were considered," Gasimli lamented. The judge ultimately sentenced both men to 30 days in detention, a ruling that Gasimli described as a gross miscarriage of justice.

As Gasimli's testimony circulates, it raises pressing questions about the treatment of religious minorities in Azerbaijan and the conduct of its law enforcement. His account, brought to light through his courageous decision to speak out, underscores the urgent need for accountability and reform. The international community watches closely as Gasimli, Shabanzade, and their supporters demand justice.