May 31, 2005

President Islam Karimov
Republic of Uzbekistan
VIA FAX: + 998 71 139 5325

Dear President Karimov,

The International League for Human Rights continues to be concerned about the ongoing, and recently stepped-up, campaign of persecution of human rights defenders and political activists in different parts of Uzbekistan. Since the League reported the detention on May 21 of a prominent human rights activist and its partner, Saidjahon Zainabitdinov, several other defenders and activists have been detained, arrested, or assaulted.

Here are some of the reports from the League's partners on the ground, in chronological order:

--On May 18, police arrested Sobithon Ustabaev, chairman of the Namangan based human rights NGO, "Defense." Ustabaev was sentenced to 15 days imprisonment for having declared a hunger strike outside a local movie theater demanding President Karimov's resignation in the wake of the Andijan's events.

--On May 26, an agitated crowd gathered around the home of Bahtiyor Hamroev, Dzhizak-based human rights defender, shouting threats and calling him a "traitor." Soon, the crowd forcibly entered Hamroev's house and began to beat him in front of his family. In his subsequent interview, Hamroev estimated the number of the attackers to be 70, many of them local newspaper editors, city administrations officials and other prominent local citizens.

--On May 28, police detained two activists of the Ezgulik Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan, Dilmurad Muhitdinov and Musazhon Bobozhanov, subsequently confiscating their computer, CDs and other documents, and a member of the International Organization for Human Rights, Muhammatkodir Otahonov. In addition, six other members of Ezgulik and Birlik have had their passports confiscated by law-enforcement officers.

--On May 29, police detained 15 members of Ezgulik who had come to Tashkent from different parts of Uzbekistan to participate in a seminar on legislature. Out of the total of 60 planned participants, only 17 were able to come to Tashkent, as a result of the governmental interference. The detained 15 activists were subsequently deported to their respective places of residence. Vasila Innoyatova, Ezgulik's chairwoman, and her husband Erkin, were temporarily detained when they visited the hotel where their colleagues were staying.

--On May 29-30, close to 100 members of the Birlik party were detained when attempting to hold a rally outside the Justice Ministry in Tashkent. A total of 150 members of the party are currently reported to be in detention throughout Uzbekistan. Among them are: Holiknazar Ganiev (Samarkand), who has been held incommunicado for the pas three days, Dainov Tashanov, Edgor Turlibekov and Nodir Akhadov (Kashkadarya). Another member of the party, Mamaradjab Nazarov (Djizak Velojat) has been told by local authorities to leave his town. The fate of seven Birlik members deported back to the Ferghana Valley remains unknown.

--On May 30, police detained for three hours Vahid Karimov and Ilhom Ashurov, activists from the Bukhara-based Humanitarian Legal Center, confiscating their passports and forbidding them to leave the city.

--On May 30, Tashkent police beat Sotvoldy Abdullaev, a 68-year-old human rights activist. He remains hospitalized.

--On May 30, starting at 5 am, police have been preventing the following Tashkent-based activists from leaving their homes: Surat Ikramov, Rakhmatulla Alibaev, Elena Urlaeva, Shoira Sodikbekova, Rano Azimova, Yuri Konoplev, Tatyana Davletova, Anatoly Volkov, Shukhrat Mahmadiev, Klara Shodmanova, Nina Gorlova, Jahongir Shosalimov. Additionally, the following defenders have been temporarily detained: Iskandar Khudaiberganov, Bashorat Eshova, Zarifa Abdurahmanova and Dildora Abdurahmanova, Azam Turgunov. Bahadir Namazov was arrested at 7 am and has since been held incommunicado.

The League also notes that Saidjahon Zainabitdinov, chairman of the Andizhan-based "Appeal" human rights NGO, is still in detention. According to his immediate family, Zainabitdinov has been charged with libel under article 139, part 3, para "G" of Uzbekistan's Criminal Code. The "libel" Zainabitdinov is charged with is the result of the interview he gave to the local newspaper "Andijonomma" regarding the tragic events in Andijan.

The League believes that the current massive crackdown against human rights defenders, members of political opposition and other voices of dissent is part of the effort by the Government of Uzbekistan to prevent the world from learning the full scale of the tragedy that unfolded in Andijan on May 12-14.

We appeal to the Government of Uzbekistan to release those human rights defenders and political opposition members who are still in detention and allow them to work freely and without fear of persecution. In doing so, you will honor the 1999 UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders which sets forth the "right and responsibility of individuals, groups and organs of society to promote and protect universally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms."

We call on Government of Uzbekistan to restore to its citizens the full scope of freedoms of assembly, association and movement, enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and guaranteed by articles 12, 21 and 22 of the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights, of which your country is a signatory.

We urge you to create the conditions for a full, independent and transparent investigation of the Andijan tragedy, which should consist of allowing local human rights defenders to work free of fear of persecution, granting press and international organizations unrestricted access to Andijan and working with international structures, including the UN and OSCE, to set up a credible and impartial commission of inquiry.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. We await your response.

Sincerely,

Scott Horton
President

Cc: Hina Jilani
Special Representative of the Secretary General
on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders
Fax: +41 22 917 90 06

Sayora Rashidova
Commissioner for Human Rights
Fax: +998 71 139 85 55

Akhmal Saidov
National Human Rights Center of Uzbekistan
Fax: +998 71 139 13 56

Condoleezza Rice
U.S. Secretary of State

Ambassador Jon Purnell

Senator John McCain

Senator Lindsey Graham

Senator John Sununu