Azeris linked to Taliban militants on trial
The trial of 13 Azeri citizens charged with
involvement in Taliban armed units started in Baku on Thursday.
The defendants are accused of creating armed units in violation of the country`s legislation, supplying them with weaponry and ammunition, illegally acquiring firearms and explosives, and trespassing on the country`s borders.
The indictment says that, having undergone military training at Taliban camps in Pakistan, these persons intended to fight Azeri and other coalition forces in Afghanistan.
According to investigation materials, all 13 are religious radicals. Most of the defendants have pleaded partly guilty, while several others pleaded not guilty.
Araz Kengerli, one of the persons on trial, said in his testimony that he was heading to Afghanistan "to protect his Muslim brethren from infidels."
"Having watched video-clips on the Internet whereby American soldiers ruthlessly obliterate helpless women and children in Afghanistan, I decided to come to their defense," Kengerli said.
According to Kengerli, the Prophet Muhammad is often insulted in the U.S. and most European countries. "The leaders of these countries are turning a blind eye to this. Therefore, I decided to fight their troops."
Kengerli went on to say that, first, he had crossed the Iranian border into Pakistan with the help of a guide. Having reached Pakistan`s Veziristan province, he entered Afghan territory and joined the Taliban liberation movement there. Afterwards, Kengerli bought a sub-machine gun with his own money and launched a "struggle against the infidels", he said.
Another defendant, Telman Isayev, said he had gone to Afghanistan to carry out a holy Jihad. He was aided by a guide named Abdullah. He acquired a weapon there, but was never involved in fighting.
"On my way back, I gave my sub-machine gun to the Afghans," Isayev said.
He noted that carrying firearms is not against the law in Afghanistan and a weapon can be easily acquired in local markets and stores.
Tural Soltanov said he had undergone 10-day exercises in a Taliban camp. The conditions there were not the way he had expected, and he even contracted malaria. He then returned to Azerbaijan.
Seymur Ahadov spent more time in Pakistan due to a leg injury he had received while in a mosque as a result of a bomb explosion. Ahadov was subsequently treated in a hospital in Peshawar for four months.
The defendants testified that they had learned from religious scholars that carrying out Jihad was not a crime and, therefore, sought to fight coalition forces in Afghanistan.
The defense argued that the defendants were unaware that their actions amounted to a crime. Lawyer Arzu Aliyeva shared her opinion on the case.
"According to our legislation, what they did is a crime. But, according to their religious views, this is not considered a crime, and they are admitting this themselves. They did not realize that an offense was being committed. They believed that, as Muslims, they could go there [Afghanistan] and set up units for the purpose of defending Muslims, and they don`t see this as a crime. So, they went ahead and joined the Taliban."
The defendants are accused of creating armed units in violation of the country`s legislation, supplying them with weaponry and ammunition, illegally acquiring firearms and explosives, and trespassing on the country`s borders.
The indictment says that, having undergone military training at Taliban camps in Pakistan, these persons intended to fight Azeri and other coalition forces in Afghanistan.
According to investigation materials, all 13 are religious radicals. Most of the defendants have pleaded partly guilty, while several others pleaded not guilty.
Araz Kengerli, one of the persons on trial, said in his testimony that he was heading to Afghanistan "to protect his Muslim brethren from infidels."
"Having watched video-clips on the Internet whereby American soldiers ruthlessly obliterate helpless women and children in Afghanistan, I decided to come to their defense," Kengerli said.
According to Kengerli, the Prophet Muhammad is often insulted in the U.S. and most European countries. "The leaders of these countries are turning a blind eye to this. Therefore, I decided to fight their troops."
Kengerli went on to say that, first, he had crossed the Iranian border into Pakistan with the help of a guide. Having reached Pakistan`s Veziristan province, he entered Afghan territory and joined the Taliban liberation movement there. Afterwards, Kengerli bought a sub-machine gun with his own money and launched a "struggle against the infidels", he said.
Another defendant, Telman Isayev, said he had gone to Afghanistan to carry out a holy Jihad. He was aided by a guide named Abdullah. He acquired a weapon there, but was never involved in fighting.
"On my way back, I gave my sub-machine gun to the Afghans," Isayev said.
He noted that carrying firearms is not against the law in Afghanistan and a weapon can be easily acquired in local markets and stores.
Tural Soltanov said he had undergone 10-day exercises in a Taliban camp. The conditions there were not the way he had expected, and he even contracted malaria. He then returned to Azerbaijan.
Seymur Ahadov spent more time in Pakistan due to a leg injury he had received while in a mosque as a result of a bomb explosion. Ahadov was subsequently treated in a hospital in Peshawar for four months.
The defendants testified that they had learned from religious scholars that carrying out Jihad was not a crime and, therefore, sought to fight coalition forces in Afghanistan.
The defense argued that the defendants were unaware that their actions amounted to a crime. Lawyer Arzu Aliyeva shared her opinion on the case.
"According to our legislation, what they did is a crime. But, according to their religious views, this is not considered a crime, and they are admitting this themselves. They did not realize that an offense was being committed. They believed that, as Muslims, they could go there [Afghanistan] and set up units for the purpose of defending Muslims, and they don`t see this as a crime. So, they went ahead and joined the Taliban."
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