According to the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, Atletico Madrid football players wearing shirts that state "Azerbaijan Land of Fire" is a promotion of the authoritarian regime of President Ilham Aliyev. The human rights NGO has made its position clear in a letter sent to the club. "We do not understand why such an outstanding football team, with a great history and great potential to be a promoter of European democratic values, would agree to promote Azerbaijan on its shirts," HFHR's letter reads.
"Our letter is related to recent events in Azerbaijan. In the past three weeks, Azerbaijani authorities detained a number of human rights defenders including, inter alia, Rasul Jafarov, Leyla Yunus and Intigam Aliyev," said Dr. Adam Bodar, deputy president of HFHR. These three activists, along with their colleagues, were engaged in the defense of the rights of political prisoners and peace building between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the unresolved conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Over the last month, the Azerbaijani authorities also initiated criminal proceedings against 21 non-governmental organizations under the pretext of fighting against money laundering. The international community shows little concern over the situation in Azerbaijan. In August, the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement calling on the Azerbaijani authorities to stop the repression against civil society activists, opposition politicians and their families.
"Azerbaijan has numerous natural resources, including, above all, oil. Thanks to its diplomatic efforts, Azerbaijan has built the reputation of a country that cares about democracy and the rule of law system," said Dominika Bychawska-Siniarska.
In the letter, HFHR calls on Atletico Madrid to reconsider the sponsorship agreement between the club and the state of Azerbaijan. "When in communist Poland we were fighting for freedom, we received support from the West. Today, the value of solidarity should guide our actions towards the protection of victims in Azerbaijan," HFHR's letter reads.
The letter (in English) to the president of Atletico Madrid is available here.
