Azerbaijani journalist succumbs to wounds from soccer fan attack
An Azerbaijan journalist who criticized a popular football player on social media has died in hospital after being attacked by presumed fans.
Rasim Aliyev died of internal bleeding in a hospital in Azerbaijani capital Baku on Sunday after being lured to a meeting by somebody claiming to be a relative of the Azerbaijani player he had criticized on Facebook, UPI reported on Tuesday.
During an interview before his death, Aliyev claimed he had been invited to meet the cousin of the player he had criticized and that after arriving at the designated meeting place six men attacked him.
In a post, Aliyev had written that Javid Huseynov, a player on an Azerbaijan team, had displayed inappropriate behavior and that he should be stopped from future matches in Europe.
Huseynov had waved a Turkish flag after his team Gabala defeated the Cyprus team Apollon Limassol in a match held in Baku’s Bakcell Arena on August 6. When a Cypriot journalist later asked him why he waved the Turkish flag, Huseynov responded with what Aliyev described as an offensive gesture.
Gabala has suspended Huseynov, who has not commented on the allegations so far.
“Despite the fact that Huseynov is a very important player for the Gabala team, he has been suspended from the first team until this issue is clarified,” a club statement said.
According to Baku-based APA news agency, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said that he was "seriously concerned" by the incident, referring to it as a "threat to freedom of speech."
Philippines, US kick off drills in disputed waters of South China Sea
US House rubberstamps $95 billion ‘aid’ for Israel, Ukraine, Chinese Taipei
Yemenis, Jordanians reiterate support for Palestinians in Gaza
Tehran economic conference: Raeisi hails Iran-Africa expansion of ties
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
Severe heat wave hits India as phase 2 of polling begins
What to expect after President Raeisi's visit to Pakistan
China describes Iran as ‘strategic partner' in West Asia
April 25: ‘Axis of Resistance’ operations against Israeli occupation
Hezbollah hits Israeli military sites near border with rockets, drones
Rwandans say UK deportation 'another brutal manifestation of neo-colonialism'
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
