France-Uzbekistan: Political prisoner Muhammad Bekzhan received the “Journalist 2013” award of "Reporters without Borders"

Speech at the “Journalist 2013" Award Ceremony at the international organisation "Reporters Without Borders"

The “Journalist 2013” 

award of international organisation 

“Reporters without Borders”

I am especially proud for Muhammad Bekjan. He has earned the recognition and respect of the international community. In 1990 Bekjan became chief editor of the "Erk" – a newspaper published by the first opposition political party "Erk"in Uzbekistan. From day one, this newspaper raised questions discussion of which in Uzbekistan is still prohibited. They are: privatisation of land, de-monopolisation of the economy, the abolition of forced labour, the causes of self-immolation of women, the consequences of the Aral Sea ecological disaster, etc.

Under the leadership of Muhammad Bekjan, a network of correspondents was created, which included not only famous writers and poets, scholars and human rights activists, but also ordinary residents of provinces of Uzbekistan. The newspaper unites people who believe in their ideas and gives an objective picture of events. It is known that the "Erk" newspaper is kept in many homes of ordinary Uzbeks for a number of years as proof that one can write about the truth openly!

An ordeal fell on Muhammad Bekjan. In February 1999, he was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment. In 2003 the sentence was reduced by three years and eight months. In January 2012, a month before his release, he was again sentenced to imprisonment for 4 years and 8 months. In total, the term imposed on him is 19 years. Bekjan was twice convicted on trumped-up charges and repeatedly tortured. All these years he is detained in conditions amounting to torture. Muhammad Bekjan has been suffering from a severe form of tuberculosis for many years. But his access to medical care is limited; moreover, his diagnosis does not reflect the severity of the disease, so the limited treatment he is receiving is ineffective. The repressive system is damaging his health to intimidate all who wish to express their opinions openly.

Not everyone, under these conditions, can maintain independence and adhere to the principles of transparency and fairness. Muhammad Bekjan is undergoing these challenges with dignity. Being awarded the prize of a prestigious organisation as "Reporters without Borders" is a moral support not only for him, but also for his family and the readers of the newspaper "Erk". Bekjan’s case shows that freedom of speech is in danger and needs a support from the international community.

In Uzbekistan, besides Muhammad Bekjan, the following people are sentenced to lengthy prison terms:

— Yusuf Ruzimurdov, a correspondent of the “Erk” newspaper  — sentenced to15 years;

— Dilmurad Sayid, a freelance journalist specialising in investigative journalism of corruption cases — sentenced to 12,5 years. He suffers from a severe form of TB;

— Gayrat Makhliboev, a correspondent of the “Huriyat” newspaper — sentenced to 12 years. He was tortured during the investigation of his case;

— Salijon Abdurakhmanov, a correspondent of the online publication “Uznews.net”— sentenced to 10 years. He is severely ill, if kept in custody any longer, this may result in irrecoverable damage to his health.

Khayrullo Hamidov, a sports commentator of the Uzbek television, journalist of the “Chamrion” newspaper, radio “Navruz” and Ravshanbek Vafoev, Botirbek Eshkuziev, Bahrom Ibragimov, Davron Kabilov, correspondents of a religious newspaper “Irmok”, are still in custody.

Many independent journalists are forced to leave Uzbekistan threatened with arrest for criminal cases.

Recent emigration of Elena Bondar received a wide publicity. In September 2013, a freelance reporter of "Ferghana.Ru", Sergei Naumov was arrested for 12 days on an absurd and false administrative proceedings. He served his sentence in heavy sanitary conditions and had to undergo a treatment for two months.

In Uzbekistan, there are no independent media, because Uzbek authorities have established a system of suppression of freedom of speech. After the Andijan tragedy European and American media lost their accreditation; the citizens of Uzbekistan cooperating with the Western media are brought under a total control. Even those who are officially working for the Uzbek services of BBC and "Radio Liberty" in the European countries are not always able to visit their family in Uzbekistan. There are cases when the Uzbek TV proclaimed them "detractors of the Motherland" or "enemies of the people”.

I believe that giving this prestigious award to Muhammad Bekjan will resonates with all people of good will and give a new impetus to the struggle for his and other journalist’s liberation.

Nadejda Atayeva

A journalist from Sri Lanka E. Saravanapavan wrote on the poster: 

“Dear Muhammed Bekzhan! I will remember you and will do everything for your release.

Remember, a pen is stronger than a dictatorship”.

A letter to Mademoiselle Zhivago

·         21 octobre 21/10/2013 17:09 StudentMK Uzb Дорогая Лара Фабиан, Вы приезжаете в Ташкент. Я так мечтаю попасть на Ваш концерт, но не смогу по двум причинам...

Dear Lara Fabian

I heard that you are coming to Tashkent. I dream of being able to make it to your concert, but I cannot for two reasons: First, I am a student, studying in my first year of the University. Like many of your fans, I am now working in the cotton fields. Every day I have to collect 70 kg of cotton. Per 1 kg of cotton we should be paid the sum of 117 Soums (local currency) [$0.06 U.S. dollars], but we do not get this money directly paid to us. For each day of food that we are given, we have to pay 3,200 Soums [USD $1.50]. At the end of the harvest campaign, we will end up owing money to the state for the expenses of transportation, food and accommodations to have us work in the cotton fields. Food products that are supplied to us are mostly long past the use-by date. I tried to take a picture of the food that we are given, but our teachers told me off severely for that, and now they are threatening me with expulsion from the university. The second reason why I will never be able to buy a ticket to your concert is that I will not have enough money for it. The number of unemployed people in the country is catastrophic. Take for example the city I live in, the only solvent business in town is the cooking oil extraction plant. The other plants and factories closed down, because there is no conversion of the Uzbek national currency and business are not able to buy the necessary raw materials for the production of their products. 

I enjoyed watching your last concert of «Mademoiselle Zhivago" on cable television. I loved it. I wish you every success.

I asked the human rights activists to pass on my letter to you. They know my real name. But, unfortunately, I cannot sign my letter under my real name, because if I do so, I will definitely be dismissed from the University and may even go to jail, like my neighbor, who was reading the web sites of the political opposition on the Internet. There are thousands of political prisoners in Uzbekistan. I thought that you might want to know who your real fans are and why they cannot come to your concert, that is why I decided to write you this letter.

I hope that you are not only a very good singer, but also a very good person too. When you are in Uzbekistan, please ask Ms. Gulnara Karimova and her father President Karimov to end the use of forced labour in the cotton fields.

Your fan,

Madamin

Bouquet for Lara Fabian

Belgian singer Lara Fabian is to visit Uzbekistan. She agreed to participate in the Fair "Style.Uz", in Tashkent which will be held under the patronage of Gulnara Karimova on 27 October 2013.

Uzbekistan: up to 4 hours in the queue to use toilet – is it not torture?

URGENT REPORT

An excerpt from a letter from a prisoner 

at the prison colony UYA (УЯ) 64/1

Association for Human Rights in Central Asia has received a letter signed by prisoner detained in colony 64/1 in Chirchiq. It states: in this prison colony, there are only 20 toilets for thousands of prisoners (note from our organisation: about 4 thousand people). The prisoners have to stand in line for up to four hours to get to the toilet. Many people suffer from diseases of the genitourinary system, including urinary incontinence. The elderly and very young alike are embarrassed by the natural need and the smell of urine. The deputy head of the colony 64/1, Tulkin Tukhtasinov, not only simply ignores the treatment of prisoners, he also uses the lack of toilets in the "disciplinary purposes". He is especially mistreats political and religious. Prisoners. This is a very evil and cruel man.

The name of the author of the letter is known to us, it is withheld on his request. 

Uzbekistan: Political prisoner Murad Djuraev is forced to backbreaking labour

The ailing 61years old political prisoner Murad Djuraev is forced to work in the production of bricks. This exercise resulted in the deterioration of his health - he often faints from high blood pressure.

On 7 October 2013, Murad Djuraev’s wife Holbika Djuraeva, returned from an extended prison visitation of her husband. "I suffer and feel helpless that I cannot save my husband from this endless challenge" - she says.

Murad Djuraev, 1994  

Murad Djuraev was born in 1952 in the town of Mubarak of Kashkadarya region. He is ethnic Turkmen, married and has three children. He graduated from the Tashkent Polytechnic Institute. Between 1989 and 1992 he worked as the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the City Council of the town of Mubarek. Between 1991-1992 he was a member of Parliament of Uzbekistan.

He was accused of conspiring with the leader of the opposition political party "Erk" Muhammad Salih. According to the authorities, they wanted to organise a violent seizure of power.

Murad Djuraev has been in prison since 18 September 1994. He was sentenced to imprisonment for five consecutive times. The first sentence was 12 year, but it was reduced to 9 years under an amnesty. After that not a single amnesty was applied to his case. The following three terms under Article 221 of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan (Disobedience to Legitimate Orders of Administration of Institution of Execution of Penalty) in total added up to another 9 years. On 4 December 2012 Murad Djuraev was sentenced to three years and 24 days of imprisonment, again, under Article 221 of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan. His family recons that there is no ground to hope that Djuraev will be released.

Murad Djuraev still rejects any suggestions to apply for a pardon to Islam Karimov.

*   *   *

According to Holbika Djuraeva, his physical condition is very poor. Murad Dzhuraev often faints as a result of high blood pressure. Purulent discharge from his nose and throat began to intensify. After the meal he suffers pain in his stomach, doctors explained that this was caused by lack of teeth. Recently, the organisation "Freedom Now" provided financial support for Murad Djurayev to get dentures. The prison administration has given permission to visit a dental technician.

Previous publications:
   - Press release «Uzbekistan: A Happy Birthday to Murad Djuraev! We wish you good health and freedom» of 5 September 2013;

   -  Press release «Uzbekistan: Red stripe on thecase file of the political prisoner Murad Djuraev» of 29 April 2013;

   - Press release «Uzbekistan: An appeal against the sentence in the case of Murat Juraev isrejected» of 5 January 2013;

   - Press release «Узбекистан: Uzbekistan:Murad Djuraev is sentenced to another term of imprisonment of three years 24days» of 16 December 2012;

   - Press release «Uzbekistan: Free Political Prisoners on Constitution Day. Use Anniversary toAdvance Real Reform» of 7 December 2012;

    - Press release «Uzbekistan: ailing political prisoner Murad Djurayev is again placed insolitary confinement» of 14 October 2012;

    - Press release «It is not possible to find out the location of political prisoner Murad Juraev for the last four months» of 17 September 2009.

Latvia – the first country in the European Union to invite dictator Karimov since the Andijan tragedy

On 16-17 October 2013 the dictator of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, will visit free Latvia on an official visit.

The Association for Human Rights in Central Asia expects that Latvia will uphold, in its foreign policy, the principles of democracy and humanity that it declared.

According to information given by the Information Agency «UzReport», Heads of the States will meet "to exchange views on the gradual development of Uzbek-Latvian relations and international issues." The negotiations will be concluded by signing a joint statement and the package of documents to further strengthen bilateral political, trade and economic cooperation and relations in the field of transport, communications, environmental protection.

Who the Latvian President, Andris Berzins, will exchange views and discuss bilateral relations with?

First of all we would like to remind that Mr Islam Karimov is in power for more than 23 years – since April 24, 1990. In 2007, in violation of the Article 90 of the Constitution of Uzbekistan, which states that "one and the same person cannot be President of the Republic of Uzbekistan for more than two consecutive terms", he remained for a third presidential term. You can read more on the subject in our press release of 20 January 2008 entitled "Theanti-constitutional Presidency оf Islam Karimov has begun".

Furthermore:

            — On 13 May 2005 in the city of Andijan, on the orders of Islam Karimov, the government forces used indiscriminate and disproportionate force to suppress demonstrations, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of civilians, including women and children. Up to this day, the regime keeps innocent people behind bars just because they have witnessed the Andijan massacre and protest against humanrights violations;

            — According to our sources, there are more than 10,000 political prisoners in Uzbekistan. This number includes 30 human rights activists, writers, independent journalists, opposition party members, thousands of members of religious communities and organisations. They are deprived of liberty for the fact that their views differ from the officialposition;

            — the convicted prisoners are systematically tortured and sexually abused in order to obtain false testimonies or to break their personality. Statistics on victims of torture and deaths in custody is blocked in every possible way. According to only our organisation, over the past 4 years, 28 people died under torture in custody. An investigation of any of these cases proved impossible;

            — Information about the mass exploitation in the cotton sector of Uzbekistan has caused a great public outcry. Many companies, which have well-known brands, supported the call from human rights activists to boycott Uzbek cotton. Civil society activists have documented many cases of deaths and injuries during the cotton harvest in Uzbekistan, there are children among the victims. No one has been held accountable for the deaths and causing irreparable damage to the health of the victims of slave labour;

            — opposition parties are denied the right to register and freedom to campaign;

            — there is no freedom of speech and freedom of assembly in the country.

The list of the crimes against humanity committed by the regime goes on. All of the violations of human rights are also reflected in the reports of international observers and international human rights organisations.

Latvia is a member of the European Union and its representatives take part in the assessment, of Uzbekistan’s performance of its obligations under international agreements in the field of human rights, carried out by the UN Human Rights Council and the Council of Ministers of the European Union.

In 2012, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the European Union. We hope that Latvia cares about its reputation and will follow the EU mission – to play a "key role in the transformation of the continent of Europe from the continent of world wars into a continent of peace", into a continent where there is no place for dictators who are leading repressive policies against their own people.

Kirgizstan-Uzbekistan: the missing refugee Shukhrat Musin is in the Andijan prison

On 8 October 2013 it became known that an Uzbek citizen, Shukhrat Musin, who went missing from Bishkek is alive and is held in the Andijan prison for about 8 months.

Shukhrat Musin’s family learned his whereabouts from Gafurjon Tashkhodjaev. He introduce himself as a stated appointed lawyer to Sh. Musin, a member of the Andijan Bar Association. He said that Musin urgently needs warm clothes and that his family can meet with him.

On 18 February 2013, someone called on Shukhrat Musin’s mobile and he went out, saying that he will be back soon. His two underage children and his colleague were in the house he rented in the Alamedin residential area of the Sverdlovsk district of Bishkek. His wife, at this time, was on her way from Jalal-Abad to Bishkek. He did not return. His disappearance was preceded by numerous threats, a detention and arrest for several months. Articles, signed by not real names, containing allegations against him appeared on the Internet. A certificate of the High Commissioner for Refugees, issued to him in January 2010, was made public, without Musin’s consent. In 2009 Shukhrat Musin was recognized as a refugee under the UN mandate. He was living in Kyrgyzstan while awaiting resettlement in a third country. By that time, Uzbekistan declared him wanted . Shukhrat Mussin’s parents were relocated to the United States by the UNHCR.

Shukhrat Musin

Shukhrat Sharipovich Musin was born on 30 September 1984 in the town of Jalal-Abad in Southern Kyrgyzstan. He grew up in the town of Khanabad of the Andijan region of Uzbekistan.

In 2007, after he and his friends watched the video of the events in Andijan in May 2005, he attracted the attention of the Uzbek National Security Service (SNB). In April 2008, several of them were arrested, accused of involvement in the so-called Wahhabism and sentenced to imprisonment. The house where the Musins lived was searched several times, during which religious literature was planted. Later, it turned out that the planted literature was banned, under the law of censorship, by the State Committee for Communication, Informatisation and Telecommunication Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The UNHCR office learned of Shukhrat Musin’s disappearance by noon of 19 February 2013.  On the same day, his wife applied for legal aid in the Public Foundation “Adilet Legal Clinic”, and since then Musin has a lawyer in Kyrgyzstan. However, he was unable to find out Musin’s whereabouts.

Under a Power of Attorney given by his father, Sharip Musin, who lives in the US, his friends retained a lawyer in Uzbekistan since 4 March 2013.

The Association "Human Rights in Central Asia" is in possession of the replies of Uzbek government departments, including the Andijan City Prosecutor’s Office, the city of Andijan Division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Andijan Region Department of Entry-Exit and Registration of Citizenship. They all said that according to the information they have, Shukhrat Musin was not in Uzbekistan.

It is clear that the law enforcement agencies of Uzbekistan deliberately concealed information about the whereabouts of Shukhrat Musin and Uzbek National Security Service did not respond to two requests for information by his lawyer.

We shall find out soon if Shukhrat Musin’s lawyer, hired on request of his father, will have access to his client.

You can read our previous publication about Shukhrat Musin’s disappearance here:

            — press release «Kyrgyzstan: ShukhratMusin a refugee from Uzbekistan is missing. Are the Kyrgyz and Uzbek secretservices involved in his disappearance?» of 26 February 2013.