Azerbaijan, Middle East

The Republic of Azerbaijan is a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia.

2000 saw the abolishment of the Azerbaijani law forbidding homosexual interactions (gay sex). A special edition of Azerbaijan, the official newspaper of the Parliament, published on 28 May, reported that the Parliament had approved a new Criminal Code, and that the President had signed a decree bringing it into force in September,  which bans only forcible sexual acts.

Although homosexual acts between consenting male adults were officially decriminalized, reports about police abuses against gays, mainly male prostitutes, persisted during the last year. While complaining of the violence against them, the victims preferred to remain anonymous fearing retaliation on the part of police." The age of consent is equal for both heterosexual and homosexual sex, at 16 years of age. As of 2009, there are no established forms of legally recognized unions for homosexuals.

 

News & Reports:

 

Azerbaijan police are trying to ‘hunt’ transgender people through internet

Breaking: Reports indicate at least 14 gay and transgender people have been randomly detained in the last 24 hours Azerbaijan police in the country’s capital Baku are reportedly rounding up gay and transgender people and detaining them. According to reports from unnamed LGBTI people in Baku, the random arrests started last night (1 April). Police… Read more »

Azerbaijan is the worst place to be LGBTI in Europe and here’s why

Stonewall 50: Javid Nabiyev is a gay activist who had to flee Azerbaijan and now tells his story Let’s imagine a society where you live with such a frightful secret that if you are to reveal it, your family could disown you. The neighbors will call you sick and look at you as a source… Read more »

LGBT People Under Attack: Raids in Belarus, Murder in Chechnya, Registration of Gays in Central Asia

Singer and Entertainer Zelim Bakaev Apparently Murdered by the Security Services of Chechnyan President’s Security Services The LGBTQI community is under assault in Eastern Europe as well as Central Asia. The most recent crackdown in the region was this past weekend’s raids of nightclubs popular with the LGBT community in Belarus, during which two clubs… Read more »

Gay men speak out about Azerbaijan’s LGBT crackdown: ‘They gave me electric shocks’

Lawyers and activists say dozens of gay and transgender people have been arrested and detained Several men have come forward with firsthand accounts of an alleged crackdown on the LGBT community in Azerbaijan. One of the men, who remained anonymous, said he was detained for nine days and tortured. “They gave me electric shocks,” he… Read more »

Azerbaijan: Anti-Gay Crackdown

Gay Men, Transgender Women Tortured to Extort Money, Intelligence (Berlin) – Police in Azerbaijan have conducted a violent campaign, arresting and torturing men presumed to be gay or bisexual, as well as transgender women, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch interviews with released detainees and lawyers confirmed that since mid-September, police in Baku,… Read more »

Western pressure is saving LGBT lives in Azerbaijan, but crisis is far from over

After Canada and other Western governments protested the arrests and beatings of gay and transgender citizens in Azerbaijan, the regime began releasing the detainees, proving that publicity and pressure can force autocratic regimes such as the one in Baku to unclench their fist now and then. But as a report released on Tuesday by Human… Read more »

Gay man beaten and electrocuted while kept in detention in Azerbaijan

Shocking testimony: ‘We were captives in our home country’ A gay man was beaten, electrocuted and detained for nine days in the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan. The man, who asked only to be identified as Xeyal, said authorities are randomly arresting and torturing LGBTI people in the country’s capital, Baku. He told Buzzfeed: ‘We… Read more »

Outcry as Azerbaijan police launch crackdown on LGBT community

At least 60 people have been imprisoned or fined after a spate of raids in the capital, Baku – Authorities in Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku, have begun a vicious crackdown on the city’s LGBT community, according to activists in the country. Reports suggest that over the past 10 days dozens of gay and trans people have… Read more »

Life As A Lesbian In Baku

In Azerbaijan, being openly gay can mean dealing with insults, threats, and even violence. Rights groups have singled out the country’s government for failing to protect its LGBT community. One young woman in Baku described her experiences after coming out to her family and university classmates. (RFE/RL’s Azerbaijani Service) Video Source – Radio Free Europe

Azerbaijan worst place to be gay in Europe, finds LGBTI index

Frequent homophobic hate crimes see country join Russia and Armenia at the bottom of leading human rights survey Azerbaijan has been ranked the worst place in Europe to live as an LGBTI citizen, after meeting only 5% of a leading rights organisation’s criteria for legal equality. The ILGA-Europe Rainbow Index, released today, ranks 49 European… Read more »

Parents nearly burn teen son to death after they find out he is gay

An 18-year-old from Azerbaijan has escaped with his life after his parents doused him with gasoline and threatened to murder him A teenager has escaped with his life after his family found out he was gay. An 18-year-old from Azerbaijan, who we will call Malik to protect his identity, has been victim of blackmail for… Read more »

First online Newsletter was relaesed in the history of LGBT Azerbaijan

Online newsletter was relaesed for the first time in the history of LGBT Azerbaijan. First issue includes January, February, March, 2014. In this newsletter issued by Nefes LGBT Azerbaijan the most memorable events relating to LGBT community in Azerbaijan are covered. It will be released periodically in both Azerbaijani and English languages. The newsletter was… Read more »

Azerbaijan loses an LGBT human rights defender

Strasbourg – “I am deeply disturbed and saddened by the sudden death of Isa Sahmarli, the chairman of the Azerbaijan Free LGBT group (Azad LGBT), who took his own life on 22 January in Baku,” said Robert Biedron (Poland, SOC), General Rapporteur on the rights of LGBT people for the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council… Read more »

Azerbaijan: Gay man found dead in Baku in wake of first gay pride rally

A 53-year-old gay man has been found dead in Azerbaijan’s capital city of Baku, according to reports. The body of the man, who has been named by police as M Namiyev, was found last night on the side of Sumgayit Highway, in the Baku suburb of Bilacari. Police information indicates that Mr Namiyev, who was… Read more »

Azerbaijan: First ever gay pride ‘mini rally’ held in country capital with no arrests or harassment

In what is believed to be the first ever pride celebration in Azerbaijan, a group of gay marchers recently paraded a “mini rally” through the capital city Baku, with no arrests, reports of harassment, or violence at the demonstration. Oxu news reports that the event, organised by gay rights activists Ruslan Baluxin, took place “in… Read more »

Azerbaijan: First ever gay pride ‘mini rally’ held in country capital with no arrests or harassment

In what is believed to be the first ever pride celebration in Azerbaijan, a group of gay marchers recently paraded a “mini rally” through the capital city Baku, with no arrests, reports of harassment, or violence at the demonstration. Oxu news reports that the event, organised by gay rights activists Ruslan Baluxin, took place “in… Read more »

Feature: The truth about gay life in Azerbaijan outside of the Eurovision Song Contest

As Baku celebrates the end of the Eurovision Song Contest, which saw Sweden’s Loreen win with her song Euphoria, we examine the realities of life of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people are forced to lead in oppressive Azerbaijan. ‘Welcome to the Eurovision Song Contest, from Baku in Europe!’ greeted star-eyed host Eldar ‘Ell’ Gasimov,… Read more »

Eurovision winner speaks out against Azerbaijan gay rights record

Sweden’s Loreen met with human rights activists before winning the international pop contest Eurovision winner Loreen, who stormed to victory last night (26 May) at the Eurovision Song Contest, has spoken publicly about Azerbaijan’s gay rights record. The Swedish pop star met with human rights activists this week in the capital to encourage their fight… Read more »

Eurovision winner speaks out against Azerbaijan gay rights record

Sweden’s Loreen met with human rights activists before winning the international pop contest Eurovision winner Loreen, who stormed to victory last night (26 May) at the Eurovision Song Contest, has spoken publicly about Azerbaijan’s gay rights record. The Swedish pop star met with human rights activists this week in the capital to encourage their fight… Read more »

Behind Eurovision’s Crystal Hall: Gay life in Azerbaijan

As Baku welcomes the camp Eurovison Song Contest, we examine the challenge that gay, bi and trans Azeris face in an oppressive Azerbaijan ‘Welcome to the Eurovision Song Contest, from Baku in Europe!’ greeted star-eyed host Eldar ‘Ell’ Gasimov, the 2011 contest in a duo with Nigar Jamal. The flamboyant contest is being held in… Read more »

Gays Face Rampant Homophobia in Azerbaijan

Intolerant Eurovision Host The Eurovision Song Contest has a massive gay following. But homophobia is rife in this year’s host country, Azerbaijan, where gays and lesbians have to keep a low profile and fear violent attacks. Even so, locals say that gay Eurovision fans traveling to Baku needn’t fear for their safety — because the… Read more »

Anti-gay Eurovision protests intensify in Iran

Homophobic Muslims take to streets of two cities in Iran, furious at rumors of a gay pride event during the Eurovision Song Contest in Azerbaijan Angry homophobes took to the streets of two Iranian cities on Friday (11 May) to protest rumors of a gay pride event during next week’s Eurovision Song Contest in neighboring… Read more »

Mass Evictions in Baku as Eurovision Nears

With the Eurovision Song Contest just two months away, the pace of construction in host city Baku, Azerbaijan, has reached its red-hot apex. Caspian shore roads are being extended, glorious marble parks are being laid, and the city’s signature downtown concert venue is gasping toward completion. The government has invested millions in a frenzied city… Read more »

What do Azeris think about homosexuals? (With English subtitles)

The Channel 13 has interviewed Azerbaijani people about homosexuality in Baku, and here the results are! Translated by quliyevresad! by Rashad Guliyev on Source – YouTube

Eurovision 2012: Azerbaijan’s Gays Not Welcome at Home

Officials in Azerbaijan insist gay visitors are welcome to the 2012 Eurovision song contest when the event, which has an enthusiastic gay following, is hosted in the capital, Baku. However, such assurances jar with those who have had first-hand experience of how homosexuals are treated in Azeri society. “My brother has vowed to kill me,… Read more »

Eurovision 2012: Azerbaijan’s gays not welcome at home

Officials in Azerbaijan insist gay visitors are welcome to the 2012 Eurovision song contest when the event, which has an enthusiastic gay following, is hosted in the capital, Baku. However, such assurances jar with those who have had first-hand experience of how homosexuals are treated in Azeri society. “My brother has vowed to kill me,… Read more »

Gay Azerbaijan News & Reports

1 Azeri-Armenian gay love story strains at taboos 3/09 2 The Violations of the Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender 7/09 3 UN HRC calls Azerbaijan to combat harassment of LGBT by state employees 9/09 4 Azeri MPs boycotted Council of Europe (PACE) gay rights debate 2/10 5 US State Department human rights report 3/10… Read more »

Gay Azerbaijan News & Reports

1 Azeri-Armenian gay love story strains at taboos 3/09 2 The Violations of the Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender 7/09 3 UN Human Rights Committee calls Azerbaijan to combat harassment of LGBT by state employees 9/09 3a Men make up 88.3% of HIV-infected patients in Azerbaijan 12/09 3b Azeri Transexuals Face Social Stigma 1/10… Read more »