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The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), has announced about the deterioration of the health condition of famous human rights defenders Leyla and Arif Yunus. This is reported by Azerbaijani information agency Turan.

The announcement of the Geneva-based organization states that Leyla Yunus, who suffers from diabetes and kidneys problems, is detained in unbearable conditions, without medical aid and in a small cell with 6 more people, which lacks fresh air.

The prison authorities in Kurdakhany detention facility have not allowed her to receive the parcels with medication, while she needs to keep a diet. Even though the delegates of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) were allowed to visit her, she is still not allowed to be hospitalised.

“The Observatory expresses its deep concern about the ongoing detention and denial of effective medical care to Ms. Leyla Yunus and Mr. Arif Yunusov and calls upon the authorities in Azerbaijan to provide adequate medical care to them as well as to release them immediately and unconditionally. Their detention seems to only aim at sanctioning their activities amidst a wave of increasing repression against civil society organisations and representatives in Azerbaijan,” says the announcement.

As reported by Radio Liberty on 19 August, lawyer Alaif Hasanov visited detained human rights defenders Leyla Yunus and Intigam Aliyev. “Leyla Yunus said that she does not eat anything and she is not allowed to keep correspondence. She is convinced that this is done deliberately and is a punishment for her human rights activities. The goal is simple - to physically destroy her and her husband Arif,” said the lawyer.

Even the meeting between the lawyer and Leyla Yunus is a big problem. In spite of the established order, the administration repeatedly informs the leadership and other authorities to give permission for access to Leyla Yunus, says the publication.
Radio Free Europe has also published the letter by Leyla Yunus addressed to her husband. “It is not enough for them that we are in a stuffy room, they also make us starve without food and do not give us medication. You and I could never have thought that in the 21st century we would face repressions of 1930s,” writes Yunus.