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September 10, 2024 – Azerbaijan –
Azerbaijani freelance journalist Shahla Karim was forcibly detained while reporting on a protest led by opposition parliamentary candidate Vafa Nagi in the southern city of Neftchala. The demonstration was part of a broader outcry over alleged electoral fraud during the country’s September 1 parliamentary elections. Karim, who was documenting the event in her professional capacity, identified herself as a journalist but was still seized by a group of about ten masked plainclothes men.
Karim was transported roughly 180 kilometers to the capital, Baku, where she was held for several hours without charge. Her recording equipment, including her microphone, was confiscated and has not yet been returned. Though she was released later the same day, the incident prevented her from completing her coverage of the protest and raised serious concerns over the safety and freedom of journalists during politically sensitive periods.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the detention, calling it a blatant act of intimidation aimed at silencing independent reporting. CPJ’s Europe and Central Asia program coordinator, Gulnoza Said, described the incident as emblematic of Azerbaijan’s escalating repression of the press, especially during electoral cycles. CPJ has demanded a full investigation, the return of Karim’s equipment, and accountability for those involved.
Women in Journalism also issued a strong statement, denouncing the targeting of Karim as part of a broader campaign of state repression against female journalists and media workers. The organization called on Azerbaijani authorities to respect press freedom and guarantee the safety of women in the profession.
Karim’s detention is not an isolated case but rather part of a disturbing trend in Azerbaijan, where journalists frequently face arbitrary arrests, travel restrictions, legal harassment, and threats. The country ranks 167th out of 180 in Reporters Without Borders’ 2024 Press Freedom Index, reflecting a deeply hostile environment for independent media.
This incident highlights the urgent need for legal and institutional safeguards to protect journalists—especially during elections—and underscores how Azerbaijan’s leadership continues to erode press freedom in defiance of international norms.
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