
Today (May 25) the Fahmy Foundation welcomed the news that journalist Khadija Ismayilova was released from prison in Azerbaijan.
The Supreme Court in Azerbaijan acquitted Khadija of two of the four charges she was accused of, and reduced her sentence for the remaining two charges to conditional release and probation for five years.
Khadija's lawyer Amal Clooney stated in a press release:
“Today we can all celebrate the fact that an innocent young woman has been freed. Khadija is a talented journalist who was instrumental in exposing corruption in her country. Her release is a victory for all journalists who dare to speak truth to power...Khadija deserves full acknowledgment of her innocence and should be allowed to resume her work as a journalist without further harassment by the government”.
Co-counsel Nani Jansen added: “Khadija is a courageous investigative journalist who should never have been imprisoned. Her release is a significant and telling gesture by the Azerbaijani courts, which demonstrates in no uncertain terms that her detention was unjustified”.
Numerous human rights organizations and activists called for Khadija's release from prison. Plans were in place to host 40 protests in 40 cities on Friday, May 27 (Khadija's 40th birthday).
The Supreme Court in Azerbaijan acquitted Khadija of two of the four charges she was accused of, and reduced her sentence for the remaining two charges to conditional release and probation for five years.
Khadija's lawyer Amal Clooney stated in a press release:
“Today we can all celebrate the fact that an innocent young woman has been freed. Khadija is a talented journalist who was instrumental in exposing corruption in her country. Her release is a victory for all journalists who dare to speak truth to power...Khadija deserves full acknowledgment of her innocence and should be allowed to resume her work as a journalist without further harassment by the government”.
Co-counsel Nani Jansen added: “Khadija is a courageous investigative journalist who should never have been imprisoned. Her release is a significant and telling gesture by the Azerbaijani courts, which demonstrates in no uncertain terms that her detention was unjustified”.
Numerous human rights organizations and activists called for Khadija's release from prison. Plans were in place to host 40 protests in 40 cities on Friday, May 27 (Khadija's 40th birthday).