Front Line is concerned by the extension of the period of detention of human rights defender and journalist Jamshid Karimov who is currently detained in the Samarkand psychiatric hospital.

Further information

According to information received, Jamshid Karimov, a nephew of President Islam Karimov, has been ordered to remain in Samarkand psychiatric hospital for a further six months where he is undergoing “treatment” despite doctors and medical commissioners failing to give an official diagnosis and allegedly admitting that there is nothing wrong with his mental health. In mid-September 2006 a Jizak town court ordered that he spend six months in a psychiatric hospital. His case was due to be reviewed in mid-March and a medical commission was instructed to examine his mental health and decide whether to release him or extend his detention for a further six month period. The medical commission's decision was confidential until last week when they announced the extension of Jamshid Karimov's detention.

Front Line is concerned that Jamshid Karimov has been detained on the basis of his legitimate and peaceful work in defence of human rights, in particular his independent reporting on the situation in Uzbekistan. Front Line believes that the only reason he has been detained in a psychiatric hospital rather than a prison, despite the fact that he is in full mental health, is because he is related to the President.