The six Azerbaijani cultural rights activists named in this action are among hundreds of people detained since 16 May 2008. There have recently been widespread demonstrations marking the anniversary of demonstrations against the publication in May 2006 of a cartoon in a state-run newspaper, which was considered offensive to a great many Azerbaijanis. They are at risk of torture or other ill-treatment. Amir Mohammad Bana’i Sadeq and Ahad Razavi (also spelled as Ehed Rezevi) are said to have been tortured in recent days.
