Ilham Aliyev – theologian, ex-head of the Islamic Party of Azerbaijan Date of arrest: 29 February 2020 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.
Sentence: On 6 May 2021, the Baku City Court for Serious Crimes sentenced to 16 years in prison Judge: Faiq Hasanov Place of detention: Penal Colony № 12 in the settlement Puta of Baku City Qaradaq District Conclusion: The authorities have been actively persecuting peaceful believers, especially activists of the Islamic Party of Azerbaijan and the Muslim Unity Movement, for almost 20 years.
In 2011, the Chairman of the IPA, Movsum Samadov, was arrested and sentenced to 12 years in prison on charges of attempting to violently overthrow the constitutional order and create a religious state in the country.
Ilham Aliyev took his place in the Islamic party and was also arrested.
