The article from FAZ details the ongoing repression in Azerbaijan under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, highlighting a recent incident involving the detention of prominent opposition figure Ali Karimli. His daughter, Sezen, shared a harrowing account of masked men storming their home after a neighbor was coerced into summoning him. The raid lasted approximately six hours, during which all communication devices were confiscated, leaving the family without information about Karimli’s fate.

Sezen, who now lives in the UK, expressed deep concern for her father, who has since been taken to an intelligence agency detention facility, where he remains incarcerated. His trial is scheduled for February 13, raising alarm among human rights advocates about the rule of law and political freedoms in Azerbaijan. The article paints a picture of a regime emboldened by international indifference and a crackdown on dissenting voices, marking a significant escalation in its authoritarian grip.

This situation also reflects broader trends of repression and consolidation of power in Azerbaijan, as the government uses tactics of intimidation and imprisonment to silence opposition. The story serves as a stark reminder of the challenges that political dissenters face in authoritarian regimes, where such actions are often met with brutality rather than justice. This case has wider implications for international observers concerned about human rights in the region, particularly as Azerbaijan continues to strengthen its ties with global powers despite its internal issues.