Online campaign to free journalist jailed in Azerbaijan

In this edition: The campaign to free a journalist jailed in Azerbaijan; two women in detention for violating the driving ban in Saudi Arabia; and YouTube celebrates the people and moments that made 2014.

ONLINE CAMPAIGN TO FREE JOURNALIST JAILED IN AZERBAIJAN
An Azerbaijani court ruled last Friday that investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova, a reporter for Radio Free Europe – Radio Liberty, would be detained on charges of inciting a colleague to commit suicide. If convicted she could face up to seven years in prison. Her supporters have taken to the web mounting a social media campaign demanding her immediate release.
Campaigning is well underway, with activists using the #FreeKhadija hashtag, slamming the charges made against the journalist and demanding the authorities in Azerbaijan revoke the ruling. A lot of web users are saying her incarceration illustrates how the political powers-that- be want to silence journalists and independent media voices in Azerbaijan.
Several NGOs have spoken out with similar viewpoints. Organizations like “Human Rights Watch”, “Amnesty International” and also “Reporters without Borders” are suggesting the allegations made against Khadija Ismayilova are false and urge the Azerbaijani authorities to free her at the earliest possible opportunity.
And while the majority of campaigning is online, some have also taken to the streets in support of the jailed journalist and demand her release. Demonstrations have been staged in front of Azerbaijani embassies across the globe: in Washington for example or in the capital of Moldova earlier on this week when dozens of protesters gathered in solidarity with Khadija Ismayilova.
SAUDI ARABIA: WOMEN ARRESTE... Go on reading on our web site.
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