8 leading human rights organisations today published an open letter to the Special Representative of the European Union for Central Asia, expressing their concern at the torture and ill-treatment in prison of Uzbek human rights defender Yusuf Juma.

Further Information

There is currently grave concern for the health of Uzbek poet and human rights defender Yusuf Juma.

Writer Yusuf Juma was sentenced to five years in prison because of his repeated protests against President Karimov's seeking a third term of office in defiance of the constitution.

Perceived as a personal enemy of the President, Yusuf Juma has been singled out for particularly harsh treatment and torture. At times he has been kept in isolation cells with prisoners suffering from tuberculosis.

During her recent visit his daughter noticed clear signs of recent torture including extensive bruising and an open wound in his head.

You can read the full text of the open letter in French in the attached PDF