We are calling on the EU to send a mission to investigate the assassination of prominent writer Rafiq Tagi, ‘Azerbaijan’s Salman Rushdie’. Mina will be meeting with EU officials on 6 December in Brussels. Here’s our letter to EU president:

Dear Mr Jerzy Buzek

Re: A mission to investigate the assassination of Rafiq Tagi in Azerbaijan

Rafiq Tagi, the prominent writer and critic of Islamism, Islam, the Islamic regime of Iran as well as the Azerbaijani government received multiple stab wounds on his way home on 19 November. He seemed to be recuperating, even doing an interview where he said the attack may have been organised by the regime in Iran. However, he took a turn for the worse and died. Some are concerned that security at the hospital was lax and that he could have been poisoned.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has denied any role in his murder even though in 2006 Ayatollah Lankarani issued a death fatwa against him. Ayatollah Lankarani’s son (whose father had died) saluted his murder and the conservative faction’s paper wrote ‘Azerbaijan’s Salman Rushdie is dead.’

We are asking the EU to send a mission to investigate Rafiq Taqi’s death. We are also calling for the EU’s condemnation of his killing and a clear defence of free expression.

Regards
Mina Ahadi
Maryam Namazie