(MENAFN- AzerNews)
terrorist Attempt? - Expert Comments On Brutal Beating Of Azerbaijani Human-Rights Activist Image' Height='500'/>
Qabil Ashirov read more Azerbaijani human-right activist of US citizen, CEO and founder
of South Azerbaijan Television (Gunaz.TV) Ahmad Obaly, and his son
Deniz were subjected to the terrorist attacks in California, the
USA. Araz Obali, the nephew of Ahmad Obali, said to the media
outlets that Ahmad Obali was brutally beaten in a hotel in the USA,
a day after returning from Azerbaijan. He noted that his uncle's
condition is moderate to serious.
Noting that as a result of the attack, Ahmad Obali's whole body
was seriously injured, and all the fingers of his right hand were
broken, and his eyes were seriously injured. He also added that
Deniz, his son, was subjected to the attack, as well. His condition
is serious and he was hospitalised at an intensive care unit.
Ahmad Obaly was born in Iran, and later immigrated to the USA.
He is famous for his anti-mullah regime political views. Besides
that, he has actively supported Azerbaijan in the Garabagh issue.
He has lashed out at fascist regimes of Iran and Armenia. He is
against Armenian and Iranian expansionist foreign policy.
So, the terrorist attack against him and his son raises
questions about the motives of the attack.
In a comment on the issue for Azernews , the
head of the Middle East Research Centre, political analyst
Sadraddin Soltan drew attention to Obali's political activity and
pointed two forces that could stand behind the attack.
“Ahmad Obali is a socially active person, one of the active
participants in the struggle for the national rights of South
Azerbaijanis. Also, during the period when the lands of the
Azerbaijan Republic were under the Armenian occupation, he
constantly raised the issue in the USA, where he lives, and his TV
programs covered the Garabagh issue and problems of Azerbaijanis in
Iran. In this case, who can be his enemy? His enemy can be only two
forces: first-up, Iran and pro-Iran forces, and secondly, Armenia
and pro-Armenian forces including the Armenian lobby, given that
the Armenian terrorist organizations have been conducting such
kinds of attacks against Azerbaijani and Turkish political and
public figures. In addition, we should not forget that the Armenian
groups prepared provocations against the Azerbaijan's consulate
general in California, where Ahmad Obali was subjected to the
attack,” Sadraddin Soltan said.
As for the reasons of attack, the expert noted that it could be
political message against Azerbaijan and the USA. According to him,
the forces who committed this crime possibly intend to harm
Azerbaijan-US relations, as well.
“Ahmad Obali is a US citizen. So this issue can be approached
from several aspects: whether it aims at harming the US-Azerbaijani
relations or this could be a direct message against the USA and its
foreign policy. Obviously, the USA supports the democratization
process in Iran. So inside the United States, people who support
the democratization process, human rights and the rights of
national minorities are being terrorized by Iran. And
alternatively, it could be a message against Azerbaijan, more
precisely, public figures of Azerbaijan can be assassinated even in
America, the superpower of the world,” he opined.
Sadraddin Soltan also did not rule out the implication of
Armenian terrorists who intend to further aggravate the already
tense relation between the USA and Iran. However, he thinks that it
looks a conspiracy, rather than reality.
“Ahmad Obali's criticism against the Iranian regime, his
constant mention of the rights of South Azerbaijanis, and the fact
that he was attacked a day after returning from Azerbaijan
automatically bring Iran to mind. In order to further strain the
relationship between the United States and Iran, Armenians can do
it even without the knowledge of the Iranian state. But this
possibility is not serious in my opinion. I think that this
incident is more related to the activities of Ahmad Obali. And as
regards his enemies and opponents, none of evidence looks more
relevant than Iran and Armenia,” he concluded.
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