Sport and Rights Alliance

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - MARCH 18: Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev inspects the stadium during the opening of the Baku Olympic Stadium in Baku, Azerbaijan on March 18, 2015. The first European Games will be held in Baku Olympic Stadium. (Photo by Azerbaijaini Presidency / Vugar Amrullayev/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) — Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev inspects the Baku Olympic Stadium, where the first European Games will be held. © Azerbaijani Presidency / Vugar Amrullayev/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

‘All fundamental freedoms are honoured in Azerbaijan,’ said President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan in June 2014. Solemn words. But not true.

In Azerbaijan, human rights defenders, journalists, politicians and bloggers are arrested, detained and silenced. While the spotlights are on the country during the first European Games in June 2015, the repression only gets worse. New laws enable the Azeri authorities to stifle any form of criticism. At least 20 people are detained because they peacefully exercized their rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly.

About This Site

It often occurs that in countries that organize major international sporting events, human rights violations increase. Freedom of expression is suppressed, people are forcibly evicted from their houses without compensation, or construction workers building stadiums are exploited. There is an urge to whitewash the country’s reputation, stifle critical voices and hide all wrongs.
Read more about human rights in (candidate) host cities and countries of forthcoming major sporting events, and see what Amnesty International’s recommendations are for host states, organizing bodies such as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and FIFA, sponsoring companies and companies otherwise involved in the sporting event.