Faiq Valizade – theologian Date of arrest: 7 April 2024 Charge: Article 274 (High treason, that is deliberately action committed by a citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan to detriment of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, state security or defensibility of the Republic of Azerbaijan: changeover to enemy side, espionage, distribution of the state secret to foreign state, rendering assistance to a foreign state, foreign organization or their representatives in realization of hostile activity against the Republic of Azerbaijan) of the Criminal Code of the Azerbaijan Republic.
On 8 April 2024, Faiq Valizade was sentenced to 4 months in a pre-trial detention center.
The period of detention in custody during the investigation has been subsequently extended several times Sentence: On 4 February 2026, the Lankaran City Court for Serious Crimes sentenced to 15 years in prison Judge: Javid Safarli Conclusion: The theologian Faiq Valizade received his religious education in Iran, and is regarded as one of the most educated and popular theologians in Azerbaijan, particularly in the southern regions 184 of the country.
He is known for his active political involvement and repeatedly protested against the ban on wearing the hijab and against the unjustified arrests of believers.
As a result, Faiq Valizade was arrested and convicted in 2011.
After his release, he once again condemned the arrests of believers and assisted the families of those who had been imprisoned.
Consequently, Faiq Valizade was soon detained again, that time by the officers of the State Security Service, and on the far more serious charge of treason.
During the investigation and at the trial, the theologian categorically denied the charges brought against him and stated that his arrest and prosecution had been punishment for his active religious activities.
