Anar Bayramli

Anar Bayramli (; born ) is an Azerbaijani journalist for Iran's Fars News Agency and Sahar television station. In June 2012, an Azerbaijan court sentenced him to two years' imprisonment on a charge of drug possession. Bayramli's family and several human rights organizations have described the charges as politically motivated. Amnesty International designated him a prisoner of conscience.

Arrest

Background Bayramli's arrest came in a year of growing tension between Azerbaijan and Iran. Iran accused Azerbaijan of assisting in the assassination of nuclear scientists, and withdrew its ambassador following complaints by Iranian religious leaders over Azerbaijan's hosting of Eurovision 2012. Both countries accused the other of interfering in their domestic affairs.

Several international human rights organizations have questioned the charges against Bayramli. Amnesty International described the charges against him as "politically motivated; trumped up by Azerbaijan’s secular authorities in order to silence their coverage of religious issues". The organization designated him a prisoner of conscience and urged his immediate release. Human Rights Watch called for an independent investigation into Bayramli's possible framing.