An Azerbaijani journalist held in pre-trial detention since March claims he has been tortured. Zaur Guliyev, editor-in-chief of Xayal TV, was arrested after unrest in the Quba region. In a statement, Guliyev said he was subjected to physical and psychological intimidation whilst being held by the Interior Ministry in Baku. The journalist told For Human Rights that he had been refused medical treatment, and experienced extended interrogations and inhumane prison conditions. Guliyev faces three years in prison for violating public order and abuse of authority.
Legislation banning promotion of “gay propaganda” has passed its first reading in Siberia. The bill, which prohibits the promotion of homosexual, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender practices among minors. The bill will also be debated in a final reading by lawmakers of Novosibirsk. Similar bills have been passed in several Russian regions, including the city of St. Petersburg.
A prominent Honduran TV presenter was murdered on Monday morning. Noel Alexander Valladares, host of popular show El Tecolote (“The Owl”) on Maya TV, based in Tegucigalpa, was shot as he left the station. Eyewitnesses report that four men jumped out of a white van and opened fire on the journalist and his companions. Valladares was accompanied by his uncle and bodyguard, who were also killed in the attack, and his wife and co-presenter was seriously injured. Valladares is the third journalist to be killed in Honduras this year.
Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng has reportedly fled to Beijing after a year and a half under house arrest. Chen is one of China’s best-known human rights activist, famous for his campaign against forced abortions. The blind lawyer spent four years in prison on charges of disturbing public order before being confined to a house in the village of Dongshigu since September 2010. The village was heavily guarded by security officials, those attempting to reach Chen’s house were badly beaten. In a video allegedly filmed after Chen fled, he claims that both he and his family have been tortured by officials.
