Transcript for Interview with Parvana Persiani

Onnik: Parvana, thanks very much for agreeing to be interviewed by Global Voices Online

We're here in the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest, Romania

for the World Blogging Forum

You're about to speak on a panel

and you're going to raise the issue of Adnan and Emin

Why is it so important for you to raise this issue here at this forum?

Parvana: Because this forum is the World Blogging Forum

Which means that it brings together

bloggers from almost all over the world

It's very important that bloggers are aware of the issues, the events

around other bloggers of the world

It's very important to deliver the message

that bloggers are not only people writing funny posts

they are not people only doing funny things on the Internet

They are information brokers

and in some societies these information brokers

they might be a threat for some governments

they might face some threats and they might get into trouble

so it's really important that all bloggers are aware of that

and unite to work towards protection of their colleagues

Onnik: You're also a member of OL!

which is a youth movement in Azerbaijan

You're on the Executive Board, I think

Parvana: Yeah, I'm on the Board

Onnik: And it was co-founded by Adnan

Also Emin Milli's AN along with OL! were

were very unprecedented in the South Caucasus for using new media

and social media tools

In the end, however, it got them into trouble

How do you reflect on that irony, I guess?

Parvana: The thing is that these guys

both Emin and Adnan

and a lot of people around them

who are not arrested yet

These guys are using the most innovative tools

The most innovative methods

which is non-traditional

It's not about going to the streets

and screaming and shouting

about breaking windows

It's not about violence

It's about tolerance

it's about non-violence

and their actions are empowered by

innovative tools

by using social networks, by using the Internet

mostly

which is almost impossible to control

How can you control the Internet?

You cannot

That is what makes them dangerous for some authorities

that they can gather people around themselves

by using new, innovative methods

Onnik: You said they can't control the Internet

but obviously, as we've seen, you can try to control some of the bloggers

You arrest them

There's now another court hearing in two days time

Parvana: It's tomorrow

Onnik: It's tomorrow

The court case has been delayed and delayed and delayed

because witnesses have not turned up etc.

What do you think is going to happen tomorrow?

How do you see this going?

This trial at the moment?

Parvana: The thing is that the trial is being delayed every time

for several funny reasons

and they're charging them for hooliganism

but it's almost twice a trial for "hooligans"

... so-called "hooligans"

which shows that this trial is all about fiction

it's a kind of comedy

but at the same time it's very difficult to predict

the outcome of this trial

because the innocence of Emin and Adnan has been proven

by different materials of the investigation

the witnesses from the opposite side are always mixing testimonies

but witnesses from Emin and Adnan's side, they're giving clear testimony

telephone conversations, other materials

they are proving their innocence

but still it is very, very difficult to predict the outcome of this trial

because logic doesn't work here at all

When you think logically they are innocent

It's obvious

Everyone sees it

Even the Judge, smiling from time to time during the court

but the prediction? It's impossible to predict anything

but still we hope for the solidarity of the people protecting them

and we do hope for a positive outcome to this trial

Onnik: I'm sure the World Blogging Forum participants after your presentation

after the questions I'm sure you'll get

will probably agree

Is there anything you'd like to add?

Parvana: Well, as I said, it is very difficult to know what will happen

but all I hope, all we hope, the protectors of their rights

is the solidarity of our "idea holders"

because it's not only about arresting certain people

It's about arresting the ideas of people

which is moral torture

so we shouldn't let our ideas be tortured

and to be arrested

Onnik: Thank you very, very much for your time

Parvana: Thank you