Prisoner Cuts His Body Parts in Protest

Nicad Ibrahim, government critic held in Baku’s Investigation Detention Center No. 1, took drastic action on November 21 by mutilating his own body in protest of his unlawful detention and poor treatment. Ibrahim reportedly used a mirror shard to cut his ears and throat, causing severe blood loss and swelling. His wife, Parvin Ibrahim, shared that her husband had made this desperate decision to express his frustration with being wrongfully imprisoned and enduring prolonged detention without a fair trial. Despite numerous appeals to the prosecutor’s office, his complaints about the false charges have gone unaddressed. 

Nicad Ibrahim was arrested in early September 2024 under controversial circumstances after publicly criticising the Azerbaijani police. Prior to his arrest, his movements were restricted when authorities prevented him from leaving the country. Soon after, he was detained in connection with an incident that remains unclear, and he was charged under Article 126.1 of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code, which relates to intentionally inflicting serious bodily harm.

This incident is not an isolated case, as other prisoners in Azerbaijan have similarly protested the harsh conditions in detention. Human rights defenders, including Imran Aliyev and Anar Mammadli, have voiced concerns over the lack of adequate healthcare and medical services in the country’s prisons. In Detention Center No. 1, female prisoners suffering from various health issues, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, report receiving insufficient medical care. Often, when they seek help, the only treatment offered are basic painkillers like Analgin or Aspirin, with no proper medications provided for their conditions. Prison medical staff are frequently absent, and when they do arrive, they give minimal attention to the prisoners’ needs.