Use climate summit to save our dad, say children of London academic

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🗞️ Driving the news: The children of Gubad Ibadoghlu, a London-based academic under house arrest in Azerbaijan, are urging U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer to use COP29 in Baku to press for their father’s release
• Ibadoghlu, a critic of Azerbaijan's oil policies, was detained in July 2023 on charges that human rights groups claim are fabricated

🔭 The context: Ibadoghlu, a visiting fellow at the London School of Economics, was arrested during a visit to Azerbaijan, allegedly in retaliation for his criticism of the government
• His family and Amnesty International demand his release, citing a heart condition that has worsened during his detention. Azerbaijan’s hosting of COP29 brings a spotlight to human rights concerns in the country

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Azerbaijan’s hosting of COP29, a critical climate summit, highlights tensions between the country’s fossil fuel interests and global climate goals
• The academic’s case underscores the broader issue of human rights abuses in oil-rich nations participating in global climate negotiations

⏭️ What's next: Ibadoghlu’s family hopes U.K. officials, including Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and Foreign Secretary David Lammy, will raise his case at COP29
• International pressure could be pivotal in securing his release for medical treatment abroad

💬 One quote: “COP29 is an opportunity like no other. If this opportunity will not be taken... then it is incredibly tough to say when this opportunity would arise again,” – Ibadoghlu’s son, Ibad Bayramov

📈 One stat: The U.K. is Azerbaijan’s biggest foreign investor, particularly through oil and gas giant BP, giving the country significant leverage in bilateral relations

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