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Press Freedom Under Siege: Azerbaijani Journalists Face Severe Sentences
Prosecutors say the pair helped spread a false documentary about a 2013 crackdown that left 58 people dead.
- On Monday, Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal charged journalists Farzana Rupa and Mozammel Babu with crimes against humanity, naming them alongside 39 others including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
- The case stems from a May 2013 rally by Islamist group Hefajat-e-Islam at Shapla Chattar where 58 people were allegedly killed; the ICT Chief Prosecutor claims Rupa produced a documentary for Ekattor that falsely denied the deaths.
- Rupa and Babu have remained in custody since August 2024 on separate murder charges, and both could face the death penalty if convicted because the tribunal lacks sentencing guidelines.
- The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the charges as "simply unacceptable," calling on authorities to drop the case immediately and release both journalists without delay.
- In parallel, Azerbaijani authorities sentenced journalists and activists to prison terms of up to 15 years on Monday over financial crimes, as Reporters Without Borders ranked Azerbaijan 171 out of 180 countries for press freedom in 2026.
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13 Articles
13 Articles
They were sued to 12 to 15 rockies.
An Azerbaijani court sentenced several independent journalists and NGO workers to prison terms on Monday on charges of "smuggling."
·Vilnius, Lithuania
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Azerbaijan sentences online TV founders, journalists to jail
·London, United Kingdom
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Press Freedom Under Siege: Azerbaijani Journalists Face Severe Sentences
Two co-founders of Azerbaijan's independent Toplum TV, alongside journalists and activists, have been sentenced to prison terms of up to 15 years over financial crimes. Despite dismissing the charges as politically motivated, they plan to appeal. The case has sparked Western concerns about press freedom in the country.
·India
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The country's authorities have arrested a number of independent journalists in recent years - Reporters Without Borders ranked Azerbaijan 171st in terms of press freedom.
·Marousi, Greece
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Total News Sources13
Leaning Left1Leaning Right3Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution56% Center
Bias Distribution
- 56% of the sources are Center
56% Center
11%
C 56%
R 33%
Factuality
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