Uzbekistan: Supporters of imprisoned Karakalpak activist claim abuse eurasianet.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from eurasianet.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
A young man arrested on extremism charges in Uzbekistan is only the latest in a growing line of people accused of recruiting volunteers for fighting overseas.
Since early 2022, Police in Tashkent have targeted Muslims with raids, house searches, detentions, arrests, administrative punishments (for allowing prayers to take place on business premises and for teaching religion without state permission), and criminal investigations. Police detained an 18-year-old woman they had earlier pressured for wearing the hijab and studying Arabic. After ten hours questioning without food or water, the young woman – who has anaemia - fainted. Police refused to explain why they raided the family home and pressured the family and young woman, and why no one was tried or punished for the torture of her. Tashkent City Criminal Court upheld the seven and a half year prison term given to Fazilkhoja Arifkhojayev in January for criticising state-appointed imams.
The Mirobod district court in the Uzbek capital rejected a motion by Bazarov's lawyer to free the blogger during his trial, which started on January 20
A court in Tashkent has refused to release from house arrest Miraziz Bazarov, a blogger and rights activist arrested who was severely beaten by unknown attackers in March last year.