Jahonnoma

08/21/2001
BBG-IBB-VOA EDITORIAL NUMBER=0-09394

UZBEKISTAN REPRESSION CONTINUES

The regime of Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov continues to try to silence journalists and others who speak out against its authoritarian practices. One of these is Shukrat Babadjanov [shoog-raht bah-bahd-jah-nov], director of the independent television company A-L-C TV. A-L-C TV had reported on corruption and human rights abuses in Uzbekistan. But it was shut down by the Karimov regime in the fall of 1999, just before the parliamentary and presidential elections.

Uzbekistan authorities accuse Babadjanov of having forged a letter, a decade ago, by Uzbek painter Ruzi Chariev [ROO-zee CHAH-ree-ev], recommending Babadjanov for membership in the Union of Artists of Uzbekistan. Babadjanov denies the allegation. In countries where human rights are respected, the allegation would be left to the artists’ union to handle, without interference by government authorities. But the regime in Uzbekistan seeks to control the press by various means, including closing down print and broadcast media outlets, giving special privileges to government-controlled media, making arbitrary arrests, and engaging in violence.

Shovruk Ruzimuradov [shohv-ROOK roo-zee-moo-RAH-dov] was another outspoken critic of human rights abuses in Uzbekistan. He was arrested on June 15th and held incommunicado for several weeks. His family was informed on July 7th that he had died in custody.

Even the relatives of those who speak out against repression are not safe. To punish Jahongir Mamatov [jah-hawn-GEER mah-MAH-tov] for his human rights reporting on the Voice of America, the Uzbekistan regime detained the writer’s two sisters on trumped-up charges in May.

A petition signed by more than four-hundred Uzbekistan citizens, mostly women, on behalf of political prisoners has been circulating in the Fergana [fur-gah-nah] Valley region. It is an appeal to President Karimov to end the torture and mistreatment of prisoners accused of membership in the outlawed Khizb-ut Takhir [hiz-boot tah-REER] Islamic organization. So far, the only response by Uzbekistan officials has been a threat of reprisals against the prisoners.

These actions by authorities do little to foster support for the Karimov regime and contribute to further alienation and unrest in Uzbekistan

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