9 June 2005

Front Line is extremely concerned for the security of human rights defenders who are reporting on the current situation in Uzbekistan following the recent events in Andizhan, where it is reported that between 169 (government source) and 500 men, women and children were killed by the Uzbek army. Front Line has received reports of a number of what appears to be arbitrary detentions and beatings of human rights defenders.

One such case is the arbitrary detention of human rights defender and Chairperson of the Andizhan based independent human rights group Apelliatsia (Appeal), Saidzhakhon Zainabitdinov on 21 May 2005. According to reports received Saidzhakhon Zainabitdinov was detained and held incommunicado for two days before being permitted a telephone call to a relative on 23 May 2005. According to a lawyer who visited his family on 23 May, Zainabitdinov is being held in police custody in the Andizhan Regional Department of Internal Affairs in eastern Uzbekistan. He now faces prosecution under criminal libel laws.

Zainabitdinov apparently witnessed the government's use of violence to disperse demonstrators at the protests in Andizhan and had commented to the international media following the events in Andizhan. His account provides a stark contrast to the official account provided by the Uzbek authorities.

Previous to the events in Andizhan, Zainabitdinov had been following the trial of 23 local businessmen charged under various articles of the Uzbek Criminal Code in connection with their involvement with Akramia, a local Islamic movement following the religious teachings of Andizhan resident Akram Yuldashev, who was sentenced to 17 years imprisonment in 1999 on charges of anti-constitutional activity. It has been reported that the ongoing trial of the businessmen triggered the demonstrations in Andizhan. The Uzbek authorities have accused members and supporters of Akramia of attempting to organise the protests with a view to establishing an Islamic state in Uzbekistan. They have also made links between the movement and the banned Hizb-ut-Tahrir opposition party, which they categorise as a “terrorist” organisation. The 23 businessmen deny any links to banned Islamic groups.

Front Line have called on the Uzbek authorities to release Saidzhakhon Zainabitdinov immediately and ensure that he is not further harassed or threatened after his release, but allowed to continue his peaceful and legitimate human rights work. Front Line Urgent Action 1 June 2005