Eurovision – Love Will Set You Free?

Tomorrow it’s Eurovision time and there are number of concerns we’ve got on the human right situation in the host country Azerbaijan. The song contest is a rare opportunity for Amnesty International to shine a spotlight on the country. In just the last few weeks there have been a whole series of horrific incidents.

Back in March, Radio Free Europe journalist Khadija Ismayilova was the victim of harassment. A renowned investigative reporter she had been looking into corruption in the presidential office. She was secretly filmed having sex with her boyfriend and blackmailed. The case got the backing of Sandie Shaw.

More recently two other journalists were violently assaulted and peaceful protestors attacked by police.

Meanwhile, a band faces possible torture after they played at an opposition rally.

And 11 prisoners of conscience have gone on hunger strike.

So when everyone else is curling up to watch Eurovision there couldn’t be a better time to turn the spotlight on the real big issues in Azerbaijan. And of course there is the bitter irony that the British entry for Eurovision by Engelbert Humperdink is entitled Love Will Set You Free.

This post courtesy Niall from Amnesty Media Team.