DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

7 July 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Politics
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Politics
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

Man, denied refugee status, is jailed on return to Azerbaijan

July 31, 2019
The IND offices in The Hague. Photo: Depositphotos.com
The IND offices in The Hague. Photo: Depositphotos.com

An Azerbaijani man, ordered out of the Netherlands after his application for refugee status failed earlier this month, has been arrested and jailed for 30 days, the NRC said on Wednesday.

Natig Isbatov, who spoke out against the Azerbaijan regime on social media, fled to the Netherlands with his brother Anar Bayramov, a political activist, in 2017.

Both Amnesty International and refugee group Vluchtelingenwerk have urged the Dutch government to investigate the arrest and say they are concerned Isbatov will be tortured in jail.

Natig Isbatov op dinsdag 9 juli met zijn gezin gedwongen Nederland #uitgezet Zijn asielverzoek was ongeloofwaardig. Vanmorgen stond hij in de rechtbank en voorlopig zit hij in de gevangenis vanwege zijn acties tegen regime in Azerbeidzjan. #mensenrechten pic.twitter.com/uVjqRZwkAJ

— Esther van Dijken (@VandijkenE) July 23, 2019

Isbatov, 32, organised the low profile return trip for himself, wife and two children in an effort to avoid drawing the attention of the authorities but was arrested two days after his return, the NRC said.

According to the police, he was ‘shouting’ on the street when he was picked up. Vluchtelingenwerk, however, suggests, he may have been arrested on fake charges.

The organisation says the government must be much more careful when judging refugee applications from journalists and activists, who have to provide hard evidence that they are being persecuted.

‘This is not the first time a refugee has been arrested after his deportation,’ the organisation said, referring to Ali Mohammed Al Showaikh, a Bahrani man who was sentenced to life in jail on his return to Bahrein.

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Society
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
Netherlands 3-0 Wales: Miedema ton up as Oranje overpower Wales
Cricket: Edwards leads the way as Dutch secure win over Jersey
Council scraps home for 14 girl refugees after violent protests
Podcast: The Eternal Sunshine of the Forever Chemicals Edition
Mixed weather ahead as summer warmth takes a break
NewsHomeEconomyPoliticsArt and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now