Human rights groups have accused the Azerbaijani government of using COP29 to target environmental activists and political critics. This marks the third year in a row that a host country for the climate summit has faced such accusations.
Activists say that protecting civil society is crucial for meaningful progress on climate change. Since Azerbaijan was chosen as the host for COP29, arrests of journalists, activists, and political opponents have sharply increased.
Professor Gubad Ibadoglu, a respected academic at the London School of Economics, was arrested in 2023 on charges of fraud, which many see as politically motivated.
He has been under house arrest ever since. His case has highlighted concerns about the growing number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan, which now exceeds 300 for the first time in years.
Despite the country’s claims of not holding political prisoners, human rights groups argue that these actions are part of a broader crackdown ahead of the COP29 summit.
Azerbaijan is under pressure to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels, but the government has made it clear that it plans to expand its oil and gas operations.
Experts have warned that if COP29 continues to be hosted by countries with a history of human rights violations, it could undermine the credibility of the climate summit. Many activists believe that Azerbaijan is using this event to improve its global image while continuing to repress its critics.
While the UN has taken steps to protect human rights at the summit, such as including clauses on protecting activists in the host agreement, there are concerns that these protections may not be enough.
Tasneem Essop, executive director of Climate Action Network, emphasized the importance of civil society in climate discussions and called for more international action on this issue.
This situation highlights the challenges of hosting global events in countries where political freedoms are restricted, raising questions about the UN’s role in ensuring human rights during climate talks.
Credit : BBC
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