Azerbaijani youth activist to spend birthday behind bars – send a card

Inspired by events in the Middle East and North Africa, 19-year-old Jabbar Savalan used facebook to call for protests against the Azerbaijan government. The next day he was arrested, and later convicted on fabricated drugs charges.

He is now serving two and a half years in prison.Jabbar turns 20 on Sunday 4 September. Despite efforts to appeal against his conviction, it now looks certain that he will spend his birthday behind bars.

We consider Jabbar to be a prisoner of conscience, convicted as punishment for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression.

As he prepares to turn 20 in a cell he shouldn’t inhabit, we want you to send Jabbar a birthday card and help us show him that he has the support of people around the world.

Post from the UK should take 7-10 days to reach Azerbaijan, so please try to send your card by Wednesday 24 August to ensure it arrives in time.

It would be great if you could include an Azeri message in your card - ‘Ad günün mübarək olsun Cabbar’ means ‘Happy birthday Jabbar’. We’ve created a handy document that means you can print this message onto labels and stick it straight in your card.

Alternatively, you can download the Azeri message on an A4 word document and create your own personalised card.

• Download the message labels (word)
• Download the A4 Azeri message (pdf)

Since there’s a whole sheet of labels there, why not ask your friends, family and colleagues to send cards too?

Jabbar is a Liverpool fan so football-themed cards would be particularly appreciated.

Cards should be posted to: Jabbar Savalan Detention Centre No. 10 Muzaffar Narimanov Street Narimanov District Baku City AZERBAIJAN

Please don’t send any religious cards or messages. You can include your own name and address if you like.

As well as asking people to show Jabbar their support, we are of course also campaigning for him to be immediately and unconditionally released. You can email the President of Azerbaijan to call for Jabbar’s freedom.