Azeri imam convicted over protest

Ibragimoglu claims his detention was political

An Azeri imam accused of taking part in political unrest has been convicted but set free after receiving only a suspended sentence.

Ilgar Ibragimoglu and 18 other protesters were convicted of joining opposition protests which followed last year's presidential elections, won by the son of the veteran leader, Heydar Aliyev.

The poll victory by Ilham Aliyev sparked protests involving around 3,000 people, in which one person died and dozens were injured.

Ibragimoglu was arrested in December after taking refuge for several days in the Norwegian Embassy in the Azeri capital, Baku.

This was a punishment for my human rights activities... I am going to carry on with these activities Ilgar Ibragimoglu

At Friday's hearing he was found guilty of resisting the police and taking part in mass unrest, but prosecution requests for a four-year prison sentence were rejected.

He and most of the protesters were given a five-year suspended sentence. Four were jailed for between three and five years.

Mr Ibragimoglu said he had expected a harsher sentence, describing himself as a "prisoner of conscience".

"This was a punishment for my human rights activities... I am going to carry on with these activities," he said as he left the court.

More than 100 people have now been convicted over the unrest.

Several alleged organisers, including opposition figures, are due in court later this month.

Human rights groups have accused the Azeri authorities of mistreating the suspects.

Western observers also said the presidential election was marred.