Police arrest more than 150 in Azeri village

According to DEMOTIX news azerbaijani police forces beat non-violent demonstrators and arrested more than 150 people taking part in the Muslim ceremony of Ashura. After the arrests, on January 5th, about 500 internal troopers entered the village. "They beat everyone, destroyed the houses" said the representative of Azerbaijan Peoples Front party, Asaf Guliyev. Baku, Azerbaijan. 06/01/2010.

According to the Radio Liberty Baku office, police arrested more than 150 people in Beneniyar, village in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan.
Everything began after the Ashura Ceremony, religious remembrance of people who were killed in Kerbela. The ceremonies were held in local mosques. Police arrested people, who took part in the ceremony. Village inhabitants say that the police used excessive force. Some arrested people were beaten, insulted, kept naked in cold weather.

But this is not the end of the story. After the arrests, on January 5th about 500 internal troopers entered the village. "They beat everyone, destroyed the houses" says the representative of Azerbaijan People Front party Asaf Guliyev.

Now the village is surrounded by Internal Troops. All entrances and exits of the village are closed.

Sourced from DEMOTIX news