3 August 2006

An Uzbek human rights defender who is serving an eight-year sentence in a woman’s detention centre in Tashkent was forcibly transferred to the psychiatric section with no official explanation.

Mutabar Tadjibaeva, Chairperson of the human rights organisation “Plammenoe Serdtse” (Fiery Hearts Club) was sentenced to eight years in prison on 6 March in a trial that Front Line believes violated international fair trial standards. A Tashkent appeals court upheld her sentence on 30 May 2006.

Ms Tadjibaeva was taken to the psychiatric section of the prison on 7 July. Ms Tadjibaeva's lawyer visited her on 13 July but has been denied access to her client since then. Her lawyer reported that Ms Tadjibaeva has been denied access to adequate medical attention and has allegedly been forced to take unidentified medication.

Front Line believes that this psychiatric treatment is in an attempt to silence Mutabar Tadjibaeva and to prevent her from carrying out her legitimate work defending and protecting human rights. Uzbek authorities have previously used forcibly administered psychiatric treatment as a mechanism to persecute human rights defenders, as in the case of human rights defender Elena Urlaeva in 2005.

Front Line has called on the Uzbek authorities to immediately cease all forcible psychiatric treatment of Mutabar Tadjibaeva and allow her access to adequate medical attention. Front Line also urged the Uzbek authorities release Mutabar Tadjibaeva immediately and unconditionally, as it is clear that her conviction after an unfair trial is an attempt by the Uzbek authorities to silence her due to her peaceful work in promoting and defending human rights.

To read more about Mutabar Tadjibaeva's case click here