Oct 13, 2021
USCIRF Releases Report Highlighting Uzbekistan’s Religious and Political Prisoners
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released a new report titled “Uzbekistan’s Religious and Political Prisoners: Addressing a Legacy of Repression.”
Uzbekistan Report - The report estimates that over 2,000 individuals remain imprisoned by the Uzbekistan government for peacefully practicing their religious beliefs and documents the cases of 81 specific prisoners, many of whom are serving some of the longest politically-motivated jail sentences in the world. It presents the history of religious repression in Uzbekistan over the past three decades from the presidency of Islam Karimov to today; the legal provisions employed by the Uzbek government to detain peaceful religious practitioners, often on vague charges of “extremism”; Uzbekistan’s extensive prison infrastructure; the authorities’ use of torture; and other forms of abuse.
USCIRF is hosting a virtual webinar to launch the report today at 2:00 PM ET. Please register for this event here.
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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].
Additional Name(s): Bakhtiyor Bakhodir ogli Tursunov
Gender: Male
Current Location: Tashkent
Perpetrator: Uzbekistan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: Yes
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 7 Years, 6 Months' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: September/5/2019
Date of Sentencing: August/14/2020
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Online Activity Religious Activity
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials Treason & Sedition
Bakhtiyor Tursunov
Extra Bio Info:
Bakhtiyor Tursunov is imprisoned for discussing his religion on social media.
On September 5, 2019, authorities detained Tursunov and charged him on various criminal statutes, including “attempts to overthrow the constitutional order” (Art. 159 UCC), “preparation or distribution of materials containing a threat to public security or public order” (Art. 244-1 UCC) and "creation, management, and participation in religious extremist, separatist, fundamentalist, or other banned organizations" (Art. 244-2 UCC). Tursunov was reportedly tortured at the Interior Ministry building alongside seven others detained on similar charges.
On August 14, 2020, Tursunov was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison. He is reportedly being held in a labor camp in Tashkent.
Related Cases: Azimjon Abdusamatov, Ubaydulla Murtazoyev, Shakhzodjon Zokirov, Alisher Kasymov
Additional Name(s): Azimjon Avaz ogli Abdusamatov
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Uzbekistan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: Yes
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 6 Years, 3 Months' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: August/14/2020
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Giving, Sharing, & Listening to a Religious Speech Online Activity Religious Activity
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism Treason & Sedition
Azimjon Abdusamatov
Extra Bio Info:
Azimjon Abdusamatov is imprisoned for discussing his religion on social media.
In-between August and October 2019, authorities originally arrested Abdusamatov alongside seven others for allegedly downloading “extremist sermons” and other religious extremism-related offenses. They were then reportedly tortured at the Interior Ministry building. Abdusamatov was charged but released on bail.
On August 14, 2020, Abdusamatov was arrested again in the courtroom immediately after his trial ended. He was sentenced to six years and three months in a labor camp in Tashkent for “attempts to overthrow the constitutional order” (Arts. 159) and "creation, management, and participation in religious extremist, separatist, fundamentalist, or other banned organizations" (Art. 244-2 UCC).
Related Cases: Ubaydulla Murtazoyev, Shakhzodjon Zokirov, Alisher Kasymov, Bakhtiyor Tursunov