In 2006, Rafiq Tağı, a journalist and fiction writer, penned an article for the Azerbaijani newspaper Sanat entitled “Europe and Us.” It argued that Islam was holding Azerbaijan back and that true cultural and societal progress would be best achieved by emulating the secular values of Europe. Samir Sadagatoglu was his editor.

After the publication of this article in November, both men, accused of insulting Islam and the Prophet Muhammad, stood trial for the “excitation of religious hostility.” They also became the subjects of fatwas demanding they be killed.

“The protection of the human and civil rights of the citizen is the most important duty of the government … Freedom of speech and freedom of expression has been trampled on here in this court. They are forcing me to turn away from my own beliefs.” - Rafiq Tağı

Both men were ultimately found guilty and convicted. Rafiq, who had three young children and a wife at home for whom he was the sole source of support, received three years in prison while Samir received four. In a turn of good fortune, however, their sentences were overturned by presidential pardon some months later.

Following his release, Rafiq continued writing and remained a critic of political Islam. In 2011, however, he suffered a stabbing attack; taken to the hospital, he appeared to be recovering, but suddenly died four days after the attack. His assassination was probably linked to his work as a journalist. It may have been a fulfillment of the fatwa against him; before his death, on the other hand, Rafiq himself speculated that it may have been in response to an article he had recently written criticizing the Iranian government.

Unfortunately, an adequate investigation was not conducted, and the motive for Rafiq's murder remains unconfirmed.