Public Activist Rabiyya Mammadova Faces Violence, Accusations, and Bureaucratic Roadblocks in Her Activism

Public and gender rights activist Rabiyya Mammadova, founder of the “Sapla” sewing workshop, has faced a series of challenges ranging from physical attacks on her family, accusations of financial misconduct, and obstacles in accessing state support for her social entrepreneurship efforts.

Violence Against Her Mother Linked to Activism

On June 3, 2022, Mammadova reported that her 59-year-old mother, Basti Mammadova, was physically assaulted at her workplace—Housing and Communal Services Operation Area No. 102 in the Binagadi District. According to Mammadova, the attack occurred around 5:55 PM and was carried out by a colleague who struck her mother with her own bag, pulled her hair, and kicked her in the knee, despite her known knee issues.

She also noted that the same individual had been harassing her mother for some time, using Rabiyya’s social media posts as grounds for verbal abuse. He reportedly showed colleagues photos and videos, calling Rabiyya derogatory names and blaming her mother for not controlling her daughter.

Believing this harassment was coordinated and connected to her activism, Mammadova contacted the Ministry of Internal Affairs' 102 hotline and filed a complaint. An examination for her mother was scheduled for June 4, 2022. The Ministry confirmed that an investigation was underway.

Sit-in Protests Over Denied Business Loan

Nearly three years later, on April 9, 2025, Mammadova began a solo sit-in protest in front of the Small and Medium Business Development Fund (SMBDF), following the rejection of her business loan application for the “Sapla” project.

Initially, she had planned to relocate “Sapla” from Baku to Ganja to better support women in underserved regions. However, Fund officials stated that projects must be based in Baku if the rental contract is there. Mammadova revised the proposal for Baku with assistance from bank staff. After approval from the Bank of Baku, the application was submitted.

Two months after submission, the Fund rejected the request on April 8, 2025, citing that Ganja was mentioned in the documents—a claim Mammadova disputes. She requested a copy of the rejection letter and the document in question, but these were not provided. Despite writing to the Presidential Administration, the Ministry of Economy, and the Fund’s leadership, no resolution was offered.

Mammadova reported that during her sit-in, police officers and Fund employees attempted to persuade her to leave. Officers from the 26th or 29th police station were involved, and one officer even entered the Fund’s building to question why she was being harassed over the loan. Though briefly detained, she was later released.

Reportedly Beaten by Police During Protest

On April 11, 2025, Mammadova stated on social media that she had been taken to a police station and physically assaulted. She attributed the incident to orders from the head of the Ministry of Economy’s Security Department. Despite the alleged violence, she vowed to continue her peaceful protest until her concerns were addressed.

As of this writing, neither the Ministry of Internal Affairs nor the Ministry of Economy has issued a public statement regarding the incident.

Accusations of Mismanagement and Fraud

Back in June 2022, fellow feminist activist Nərmin Shahmarzade accused Mammadova of mismanaging funds intended for the “Sapla” sewing house. According to Shahmarzade, Mammadova failed to provide transparency reports and continued to request donations despite volunteer support and successful product sales. She also raised concerns about a past fundraising effort for Mammadova’s brother’s surgery, which was reportedly covered by public insurance.

In response, Mammadova emphasized her commitment to transparency. She explained that reporting had been delayed due to the assault on her mother and clarified the difficulty in tracking fabric purchases, as receipts were not issued by suppliers. Mammadova also noted that “Sapla” operated as a collective space belonging to a group of women, not solely under her control, and promised to release monthly financial reports.

Background on "Sapla"

Founded in 2022, the “Sapla” sewing workshop was created as a safe space for survivors of domestic violence and unemployed women. The initiative aims to teach tailoring skills and enable women to earn income through the sale of handmade garments.

Despite continuous adversity—from personal attacks and public accusations to bureaucratic hurdles—Rabiyya Mammadova continues her activism and social enterprise work, maintaining her stance for women’s rights and economic empowerment in Azerbaijan.