[wanabidii] Press Releases: Criminal Charges Against Institute for Peace and Democracy Director Leyla Yunus in Azerbaijan

You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Press Releases: Criminal Charges Against Institute for Peace and Democracy Director Leyla Yunus in Azerbaijan 07/31/2014 04:19 PM EDT Criminal Charges Against Institute for Peace and Democracy Director Leyla Yunus in Azerbaijan Press Statement Marie Harf Deputy Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC July 31, 2014 The criminal charges levied against prominent human rights defender Leyla Yunus and her husband Arif Yunus on July 30 are deeply concerning and represent a further restriction on peaceful civil society activities in Azerbaijan. Ms. Yunus is being held in pre-trial detention despite a serious health condition. Mr. Yunus also has a serious health problem and is under house arrest. These charges appear to be connected with their participation in constructive people-to-people programs that aim to ease tensions and build confidence in the region. We urge the Government of Azerbaijan to respect the universal rights of its citizens, ensure they are afforded all the fair trial guarantees to which all citizens are entitled, and allow them to freely express their views in accordance with international human rights commitments and obligations. The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Stay connected with the State Department:   External links found in this content or on Department of State websites that go to other non-Department websites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.  Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. Department of State. This email was sent to wanabidii@googlegroups.com using GovDelivery, on behalf of: U.S. Department of State · 2201 C Street NW · Washington, DC 20520