Ismailova, a gutsy lady KHADIJA ISMAILOVA, an Azeri journalist investigating corruption among the country’s ruling elite, knew that she was swimming in deep waters. In 2012 Ms Ismailova received a package containing stills from a secretly filmed sex tape of her, and a warning that unless she stopped digging it would be published online. Ms Ismailova ignored the threat, and the video was duly released. She kept on reporting anyway. In December, she was arrested on charges of inciting a fellow journalist, Tural Mustafayev, to attempt suicide. In February more charges were added, including tax evasion and abuse of power. Meanwhile Mr Mustafayev withdrew his complaint, saying that it had been made under “emotional stress”. No trial date has yet been fixed.
Ms Ismailova is not alone. Azerbaijan has convicted or imprisoned at least 33 other activists, journalists and bloggers over the past year on politically motivated charges, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW), a New York-based advocacy group. Ill-treatment of prisoners is common. There is growing concern about Leyla Yunus, a leading human-rights activist, and…
