LERIK, July 26, 2025 — A 42-year-old man from Lerik district has been sentenced to six years in prison for sexually assaulting his mother-in-law, in a case that has shocked the local community and stirred public outrage.
According to court documents, the incident occurred on September 17, 2024, when the man, identified as Amal (name changed), allegedly attacked the woman at their family home. The prosecution stated that he used force to lock her in a room and engaged in non-consensual sexual acts.
During the investigation, the defendant claimed that he and the victim had been in a consensual relationship for nearly two decades, asserting that the incident was misinterpreted after they were discovered together by a family member.
However, the victim testified that she was assaulted against her will and had resisted the attack.
The Lankaran Serious Crimes Court found Amal guilty under Article 150.1 of the Criminal Code (sexual acts involving violence or coercion) and sentenced him to six years in a general-regime correctional facility.
The case has sparked wider discussions in Azerbaijan about domestic abuse, victim protection, and the need for stronger safeguards against sexual violence within families.
