Jahongir.Org
08/21/2001
BBG-IBB-VOA EDITORIAL NUMBER=0-09394
UZBEKISTAN REPRESSION CONTINUES
The regime of Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov continues to try to silence
journalists and others who speak out against its authoritarian practices. One
of these is Shukrat Babadjanov [shoog-raht bah-bahd-jah-nov], director of the
independent television company A-L-C TV. A-L-C TV had reported on corruption
and human rights abuses in Uzbekistan. But it was shut down by the Karimov regime in the
fall of 1999, just before the parliamentary and presidential elections.
Uzbekistan authorities accuse Babadjanov
of having forged a letter, a decade ago, by Uzbek painter Ruzi Chariev [ROO-zee
CHAH-ree-ev], recommending Babadjanov for membership in the Union of Artists of Uzbekistan. Babadjanov denies the allegation. In countries
where human rights are respected, the allegation would be left to the artists'
union to handle, without interference by government authorities. But the regime
in Uzbekistan seeks to control the press by various means,
including closing down print and broadcast media outlets, giving special
privileges to government-controlled media, making arbitrary arrests, and
engaging in violence.
Shovruk Ruzimuradov [shohv-ROOK
roo-zee-moo-RAH-dov] was another outspoken critic of human rights abuses in Uzbekistan. He was arrested on June 15th and held
incommunicado for several weeks. His family was informed on July 7th
that he had died in custody.
Even the relatives of those who speak out
against repression are not safe. To punish Jahongir Mamatov [jah-hawn-GEER
mah-MAH-tov] for his human rights reporting on the Voice of America, the Uzbekistan regime detained the writer's two sisters on
trumped-up charges in May.
A petition signed by more than
four-hundred Uzbekistan citizens, mostly women, on behalf of political
prisoners has been circulating in the Fergana [fur-gah-nah] Valley region. It is an appeal to
President Karimov to end the torture and mistreatment of prisoners accused of
membership in the outlawed Khizb-ut Takhir [hiz-boot tah-REER] Islamic
organization. So far, the only response by Uzbekistan officials has been a threat of reprisals against the
prisoners.
These actions by authorities do little to
foster support for the Karimov regime and contribute to further alienation and
unrest in Uzbekistan.