Two of Azerbaijan‘s most prominent human rights defenders have arrived in the Netherlands after the authorities in Baku suddenly granted them permission to leave.
Leyla and Arif Yunus
Leyla Yunus and Arif Yunus were sentenced to 8 1/2 and 7 years in prison, respectively, in August 2015 for “fraud” and other purported crimes related to their NGO work. Toward the end of 2015, the Yunuses were released from jail and their sentences were suspended due to their poor health [see: https://thoolen.wordpress.com/2015/12/10/one-of-azerbaijans-key-human-rights-defenders-leyla-yunus-freed-now-the-others/]. The decision by authorities in Azerbaijan to let them travel comes as something of a surprise as last month an appeals court in Baku still ruled the two could not travel to Europe because of their suspended prison terms.
Other activists, journalists, and government critics — including investigative journalist and RFE/RL contributor Khadija Ismayilova — remain imprisoned in Azerbaijan on charges that Western officials and international rights groups have called politically motivated.
Source: Prominent Azerbaijani Human Rights Defenders Allowed To Leave
Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards 
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