International PEN has long been concerned about the state of freedom of expression in Uzbekistan. The imprisonment of critics of the government, coupled with disturbing reports of torture in detention centres, has led International PEN to issue protests to the Uzbek government on numerous occasions since Uzbekistan gained independence in 1991.
Today International PEN’s concerns are focused on the increasing misapplication
of legislation to penalize those critical of the authorities, in particular the continued detention of writers Mamadali Mahmudov, Muhammad Bekzhon and Yusuf Ruzimuradov, held since 1999 on allegations of involvement in terrorist acts earlier that year. The convictions are based solely on the three prisoners' support for the exiled opposition leader, Muhammed Salih, and their work for an opposition newspaper, now banned. There is no evidence that the three had used or advocated violence in their call for political change.
PEN is also following the cases of two journalists who have found themselves caught up in the suppression of independent Muslims who practice their faith outside of government controls, and particularly those critical of the Uzbek authorities.
Reports that the use of torture against political prisoners is widespread is
deeply alarming to International PEN, particularly as it has received
substantial evidence that writers and journalists are among those ill-treated.
Most recently reported is the case of journalist Ruslan Sharipov, now serving a
four-year prison term for “homosexuality” charges widely seen as a penalty for
his criticism of Uzbekistan’s human rights record. His letter to the United
Nations Secretary General, Koffi Annan, publicized in September this year,
detailing ill-treatment at the hands of interrogators has raised already serious concerns that Sharipov had been tortured to force him to confess.
As a state party to the United Nations International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, and to its Convention against Torture, Uzbekistan has pledged to protect the right to freedom of expression and association, to a fair trial and not to be subject to torture. International PEN is calling on the Uzbek government to stand by its commitments and:
release all those detained solely for the practice of their right to freedom of expression, association and religion;
call for an immediate end to the use of torture in detention, and to order full and impartial investigations into all claims of ill-treatment, with the aim of bringing to justice any officer found to have committed such acts.
Materials with this Special Action are (CLICK on each to view):
Writers Under Attack: Human Rights Concerns in Uzbekistan
The case of Ruslan Sharipov
Ruslan Sharipov's Letter to Kofi Annan
Background Paper on the Erk Cases
Hairulla Ernazarov and Gayrat Mehliboev-
Victims of Religious Intolerance?
Torture and Deaths in Custody
Sample Appeal Letter
If you can send just one letter, that will join the many other appeals and serve as a source of pressure on the Uzbek government.
However, the needs of prisoners in Uzbekistan are long-standing and work will still need to be done after October.
Please contact ftw@pen.org if you have any questions.
