Uzbekistan: Stop Arresting Defenders for Reporting on Andijan Massacre

Uzbekistan: Stop Arresting Defenders for Reporting on Andijan
Massacre

Click Here to Take Action
http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/campaign/andijan/ind5ud84y73xkt6?

On May 13, 2005, violence broke out in Andijan, Uzbekistan.
President Islam Karimov and other official sources initially
indicated that the army responded with gunfire to a gathering of
extremists, and that 169 "bandits" were killed. Independent
sources, however, estimate that the civilian death toll could be
as high as 750 men, women and children.

In the aftermath of the violence, human rights defenders face
beatings and arrests. The crackdown targets those attempting to
gather and disseminate information about the events and the
identity and number of victims. Because the government controls
all media output in Uzbekistan, this independent reporting is
vital.

Saidjahon Zainabitdinov, chairman of the human rights group
Apelliatsia (Appeal) in Andijan, witnessed the security forces
using lethal force on May 13. After commenting on the incident
to international press, Mr. Zainabitdinov was arrested and
detained incommunicado for three days. He now faces prosecution
under criminal libel laws.

In Tashkent, government agents beat and arrested several
activists on their way to interview survivors of the Andijan
tragedy. At least one human rights defender in Namangan was
harassed and arrested by authorities while peacefully protesting
the violence in Andijan.

In Uzbekistan, where torture in prisons is widespread, detention
for even a short time raises serious concerns for the safety of
detainees.

Human rights defenders, who have long faced official repression,
are essential in ensuring that the government of Uzbekistan and
its agents are held accountable for grave human rights abuses
committed against civilians in Andijan and elsewhere. Human
Rights First urgently needs your help to help protect human
rights defenders in Uzbekistan.

Click Here to Take Action:
http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/campaign/andijan/ind5ud84y73xkt6?

Click here to learn more about human rights defenders in
Uzbekistan:
http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/ct/VdwVaMs1quud/
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