Perhaps what irks his critics most is Milli’s eloquence. He studied law in Germany, has traveled extensively throughout Europe and the US and feels comfortable speaking in English and German.
Or, it could be his use of humor to poke fun at the government.
Milli first made headlines in Azerbaijan in 2009 when he and a friend, Adnan Hajizada, posted their now famous donkey video on YouTube.
Dressed likeUsing an ass in a costume Milli had picked up in New York, Milli the donkey held a mock press conference to poke fun of the government’s purchase of two donkeys for 40,000 euros each from Germany. Here in Austria, a donkey costs about 850 euros.
The authorities were not amused. Milli and Hajizada were sentenced to 30 months in prison. They were released a day apart after serving 16 months, primarily due to strong international pressure.
When he got out, Milli said he found it hard to get work. Former employers fear retaliation from the government if they hire him, he said. He still works as a translator when he can. Currently he’s writing short stories, which he plans to translate into English and sell. He said he would use the 1,000-euro speaking fee he got from the conference to pay off debts.
His wife divorced him after he got out of prison and has since left Azerbaijan. But the YouTube experience left Milli resolved to stay and fight.
“The Internet is the only effective tool for people like me,” he said. The government wants to marginalize writers, he added. “If international media give us a platform, then people in Azerbaijan may read it and change their mind. It breaks the narrative.”
That is why Milli tweeted throughout the panel discussion to his 4,957 followers. It is also why he posted photos of the conference on his Facebook page.
Except the one with Zimmermann.
Disclosure: CJR has received funding from the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) to cover intellectual-property issues, but the organization has no influence on the content.
My Ethics in Communication class had a discussion on ethics for cross-cultural communication and this article fit right in with the discussion. Zimmerman and Milli had differing views on whether their picture should be posted on Facebook based on their cultures; Zimmerman being French and Milli, Azerbaijani. According to Charles Ess author of Digital Media Ethics, “the first component of an ethics for cross-cultural communication online is the obligation to become familiar with the cultures of the world, beginning with the cultures of those with whom one frequently communicates.” Zimmerman and Milli both showed ethical cross-cultural communication when they each acknowledged and understood the others' feelings about the photo appearing on Facebook.
By sharing this story, you have given me an awareness of how valuable my freedom of speech is. I agree with the statement that Jillian York made. Emen Milli is incredibly brave. Thanks for sharing.
Kelly M.
Drury University Student
#1 Posted by Kelly M., CJR on Fri 15 Feb 2013 at 09:00 PM
To Kelly M.
you must be an American since you so quick to jump to judge other people and cultures without even remotely knowing them. I am an Azerbaijani and I lived in the US for many years. I could not freely and without reprisal express my thoughts. At least once, I was fired from work for being different, and many times harrased. I work for the US entity now and one of big bosses from Washington told me to "keep a low profile" just few days ago when I expressed my concern about unfair practices in the US. He did not deny having these practices, he just wanted me to keep my mouth shut. Otherwise...
#2 Posted by Free man, CJR on Sun 17 Feb 2013 at 12:33 PM