Over the last several days, LGBT+ activists in Azerbaijan have reported a sudden crackdown on people who do not correspond with ‘national traditional values.’

Eyewitness reports claim authorities have detained over 100 LGBT+ people. Beaten them, verbally abusing and forcing medical examinations on transgendered people. Some reports even suggest authorities are shaving the hair of transgender women.

Ayaz Efendiyev of the Justice Party called for the arrests to continue. He said in a statement: ‘Western circles are trying to destroy our national traditions under the name of ‘human rights. He describes LGBTI people as ‘creatures who are sources of immorality, dangerous diseases, and who have been cursed by God.’

It wasn't so long ago we were fighting to help the gay men of Chechnya, now it's happening again and we can't just stand by.

We need your help to call for prompt, effective and thorough investigations into the reports of torture and humiliation of gay and transgendered people in Azerbaijan.

Anyone found guilty or complicit in such crimes must be brought to justice.

Once the petition gets a decent amount of signatures, we will deliver it by hand to the Azerbaijan embassy in Central London and peacefully protest.

Please be vocal and ask your MP's to speak out. We've said 'never again' too many times. Enough is enough. LGBT+ rights are human rights.