International Council of Journalists demand explanation from France

The Foreign Media Assembly of the International Council of Journalists, which has representatives in 64 countries, issued a protest statement regarding the harassment of Azerbaijani journalist Aygun Hasanova in France.

Elshad Eyvazli, chairman of the Council's Foreign Media Assembly, told Report that they strongly condemn such behavior towards the media representative.

"We condemn all kinds of pressure and violence against journalists. We demand an explanation from the French government regarding the pressures against Aygun Hasanova, an employee of Azerbaijan's official media outlet, AZERTAC, who was sent to New Caledonia," he added.

Eyvazli emphasized that hindering the professional activity of a journalist registered in France is a violation of international rights and freedoms: "If such a situation happens in one of the political centers of the world, it disappoints journalists all over the world. We consider and condemn the detention of a journalist in a police station and her removal from the country as a limitation of the journalist's right to access information."

Note that the official circles of France prevented AZERTAC's employee, Aygun Hasanova, from carrying out her professional activities as a journalist without providing any legal grounds. The journalist was detained at the police station and deported as an "undesirable person.".