In Azerbaijan, journalist is trialled for translating Hitler's book

The Nariman District Court of Baku is considering the claim against Avaz Zeinally, editor-in-chief of the "Hural" newspaper, who translated Adolf Hitler's "Mein Kampf" into the Azeri language.

The prosecution of the journalist because of this translation began back in December 2004. Then, Mr Zeinally was arrested after one of the publishing houses had printed, under his order, 100 copies of Adolf Hitler's book "Mein Kampf". Later, the Azerbaijani authorities stopped the investigation in relation to Avaz Zeinally for "absence of punishable offence."

Then, in May 2007 employees of the Ministry of National Security (MNS) of Azerbaijan conducted a night search in the editorial office of the "Hural" newspaper and again confiscated the copies of the book "Mein Kampf" and a three-volume edition about Adolf Hitler's life and activities. On the following day after the search and confiscation of the above materials, MNS employees detained the editor of the "Hural" newspaper, but after an "explanatory talk" he was released.

Now, as the court has explained, the criminal case against Zeinally was initiated on the basis of applications of the Embassy of Israel in Baku and the community of Mountain Jews who believe that the translation of the "Mein Kampf" from the Turkish to the Azerbaijan language is an indication of sympathy to Hitler.

The editor-in-chief is accused under Article 283 ("Kindling of national, racial or religious hostility") of the Criminal code of Azerbaijan, which assumes a fine or restriction of freedom for the term of up to three years, or imprisonment for the term of 2-4 years, the "Interfax" reports.

In his turn, Avaz Zeinally states that the court refused to make examination of the book with the aim to define whether the translation of the book expresses any sympathy to Hitler. In this context, according to the "Segodnya" (Today) newspaper, the court made a decision to continue the trial on September 23 by interrogation of witnesses.