|
|
[Date] His Excellency President Islam Abduganievch KarimovRezidentsiya prezidenta Tashkent 70000 Republic of Uzbekistan Fax: + 998 71 139 5625
H. E. Rashidjon Hamidovich Kodirov
Your Excellencies, I am writing to express my concern about 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, as well as the sentence passed against journalist and human rights activist Ruslan Sharipov. I am also particularly worried by reports that the use of torture is widespread against political prisoners. I respectfully remind the Uzbek authorities of their commitments to the principles of freedom of expression, of religion and the right not to be subject to torture as guaranteed by the Uzbek Constitution, the United Nations International Convention on Civil and Political Rights and the United Nations Convention against Torture, to which Uzbekistan is a state party. I therefore urge you to carry out an exhaustive investigation into the allegations of torture and prosecute anyone found responsible in an effort to end this practice. I also call for the immediate and unconditional release of Mamadali Mahmudov, Muhammad Bekzhon, Yusuf Ruzimuradov and Ruslan Sharipov pending an independent review into their trials and the sentences upheld against them. Sincerely, [Your name and signature]
Cc: Please contact ftw@pen.org if you have any questions. |