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February 07, 2026 – Azerbaijan –
A coalition of international and local rights organisations has called on Azerbaijani authorities to thoroughly investigate allegations of sexual harassment and abuse reportedly suffered by women journalists currently detained in connection with the Meydan TV case, warning that failure to address these claims represents a serious violation of basic human rights and due process.
The Forum for Human Rights (FIDH), ARTICLE 19 and Azerbaijani civil society groups say several female journalists held in pre-trial detention have reported instances of sexual harassment, threats and degrading treatment while incarcerated — allegations that, if verified, could constitute torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment under international law. These claims come amid wider concerns about the handling of press freedom cases in Azerbaijan.
According to the joint statements, women detainees have described being subjected to unwanted touching, humiliating comments, and intimate searches conducted without appropriate privacy or legal justification by prison officials. Rights groups emphasise that such treatment fundamentally undermines the dignity and safety of journalists and may breach Azerbaijan’s obligations under the Convention against Torture and other human rights treaties to which it is a party.
ARTICLE 19 — which campaigns globally for freedom of expression — said in a 12 February 2026 publication that these reports require independent, transparent investigations with full accountability for perpetrators. The organisation also urged Azerbaijan to immediately release detained women journalists and ensure that any future detention complies with international standards, including safeguards against sexual and gender-based violence.
FIDH echoed these concerns, noting that sexual harassment and threats in detention can serve as tools of intimidation that disproportionately affect women journalists, discouraging critical reporting and participation in media work. FIDH stressed that authorities must not only investigate the alleged abuse but also guarantee the physical and psychological safety of detainees, including access to medical care and legal representation.
Local human rights defenders in Azerbaijan have described the allegations as part of a wider pattern of harassment and pressure targeting independent media workers since the Meydan TV crackdown began in late 2024. In that period, more than a dozen journalists have been arrested on charges including financial offences, which rights groups and press freedom advocates deem politically motivated. The addition of abuse claims has intensified scrutiny on prison conditions and the treatment of women in custody.
In response to the advocacy, Azerbaijani authorities have denied systematic mistreatment of detainees, asserting that all prisoners are treated in accordance with domestic law. However, no independent investigations or access for international monitors have been announced regarding the specific harassment claims, prompting rights groups to call for external oversight and involvement from bodies such as the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture.
The coordinated appeal from FIDH, ARTICLE 19 and partners underscores not only the alleged abuse of detained journalists but also broader concerns about press freedom, judicial independence and the protection of media workers in Azerbaijan — especially those facing detention for their reporting.
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