Human rights defender, Ms Oyazimhon Hidirova, has been granted amnesty by the Arnasay regional court on 30 August 2009. This decision was taken under the Declaration of Amnesty adopted by the Uzbek parliament on 28 August 2009.

Further Information

Oyazimhon Hidirova is a member of the International Society of Human Rights of Uzbekistan (HRSU) and works in the defence of farmers’ land rights in the Djizak region. Front Line had previously raised the case of Oyazimhon Hidirova on 4 August 2009 following her arrest by representatives of the Department of Interior of the Dustlik district on charges of “hooliganism”.

On 29 August 2009, the Senate of Uzbekistan’s parliament decided to grant amnesty to prisoners on the eve of Independence Day on 1 September. Reports from the parliament stated that the amnesty is to be granted to prisoners convicted for light crime, among them women, elderly and foreign prisoners as well as juvenile offenders.

Front Line welcomes the release of Oyazimhon Hidirova and on the occasion of Uzbek Independence day calls upon the Uzbek authorities to release, unconditionally, the following human rights defenders who remain in jail:

Salijon Abdurahmanov, a journalist with Uznews.net, member of the Real Union of Journalists of Uzbekistan, and member of the Committee to Protect Individuals’ Rights in Karakalpakstan;

Khabibulla Akpulatov, member of the Ishtikhan regional branch of HRSU;

Azam Farmonov, chair of the Syrdarya regional branch of HRSU;

Nasim Isakov, member of the Jizak regional branch of HRSU;

Yusuf Juma, writer and human rights defender, and his son Mashrab Juma;

Alisher Karamatov, chair of the Mirzaabad regional branch of HRSU;

Jamshid Karimov, independent journalist, correspondent for the Institute for War and Peace Reporting and member of the HRSU;

Isroiljon Kholdarov, chair of the Andijan branch of Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan “Ezgulik;”

Norboi Kholzhigitov, chair of the Ishtikhan district branch of the HRSU;

Abdurasul Khudoynazarov, member of the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan “Ezgulik;” Abdulahat Madmarov,

Abdullah Madmarov, Habidulla Madmarov and Abdusamad Madmarov, who are respectively the two sons and two nephews of Ahmadjon Madmarov, a prominent long-standing human rights defender and winner of the 2006 Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders.

Also imprisoned are Zafar Rakhimov, member of the Kashkadarya regional branch of HRSU;

Yuldash Rasulev, member of the Kashkadarya regional branch of HRSU;

Dilmurod Sayid, member of the Tashkent regional branch of Human Rights Society “Ezgulik” and Akzam Turgunov, executive director and founder of “Mazlum” human rights centre.

The majority of these imprisoned human rights defenders are in poor conditions of health.

According to the information received by Front Line, Alisher Karamatov has tuberculosis and blood has been detected in both of his affected lungs. He has been diagnosed with second degree muscular dystrophy and his medical condition has been defined as “serious”.

Norboi Khojigitov’s weight had fallen from 90 kg to 50 kg while in prison and he has lost most of his teeth. He is 60 years old and has diabetes.

Akzam Turgunov currently weighs only 40 kg.

Salijon Abdurahmanov was sent to the prison hospital for allergy treatment, and was promised that he would be sent to a prison hospital in Tashkent but this has not happened.

Front Line has received reliable information that many human rights defenders are submitted to ill-treatment.

Front Line believes that abovementioned human rights defenders have been arrested and detained solely as a result of their legitimate activities in the defence of human rights in Uzbekistan. Front Line is gravely concerned for their physical and psychological integrity while in detention.