On November 13, families and relatives of Azerbaijani political prisoners received the symbolic Sakharov Freedom Award in Oslo as a tribute to their bravery. Dinara Yunus, the daughter of imprisoned Leyla and Arif Yunus shared with Meydan her impressions from the event, where she too received the award on behalf of her jailed parents.
“It was a very touching atmosphere” wrote Dinara to Meydan TV. “In her moving speech, Berit Linderman [Head of Information and Senior Adviser at the Norwegian Helsinki Committee] spoke of my mom. She quoted my mom’s recent letter to my father. Later after the presentation, many of the guests, approached me, wishing me strength and showing their support”.
Several of the speakers raised their concerns of the deteriorating situation with regard to the human rights in Azerbaijan.
“For several years we have been concerned about the situation in Azerbaijan with rgards to human rights. In the recent months we have seen a sharp deterioration in the state of affairs, and we together with the international community have expressed our sincere concern”, stated Bard Glad Pedersen, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
On her overall impressions Dinara wrote she felt honored being at the ceremony and receiving the award on behalf of her parents together with some other family members of other political prisoners. It was also all very emotional. “There was a quartet singing at the beginning of the ceremony, and in the background, a slideshow displaying pictures of all the political prisoners. When I saw my parents, my stomach tightened and the spur of emotions overtook me.”
“I wish they were there in person to receive this wonderful award and I was just part of the audience congratulating them and all other political prisoners”, wrote Dinara.
