Azeri police break up protest against Iranian activist's deportation

Some 20 members of the opposition youth group Wave picketed the Interior Ministry's building in the capital, Baku, until police dispersed them and detained eight activists, group leader Ulvi Hasanly said. District police declined to comment.

The activists were protesting last week's deportation of Iranian activist Hadi Musavi, saying he faced prosecution in his native country.

Musavi had campaigned for the rights of ethnic Azeris, the largest ethnic minority in Iran. He had served prison time in Iran for participating in unauthorized rallies before moving to Azerbaijan, where he unsuccessfully applied for political asylum. The Associated Press

/The International Herald Tribune/