Additional Name(s): Alijon Mirganiev
Gender: Male
Current Location: Regime Prison No. 12, Navoi Region
Perpetrator: Uzbekistan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Reduced to 6 Years, 6 Months' Imprisonment
Sentence: Originally 7 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: June/22/2022
Date of Sentencing: October/18/2022
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Adherence to a Religious Figure Religious Activity Travel Abroad
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Crimes Involving Minors Drug Trafficking & Illicit Drug Use Extremism Illegal Migration & Entry/Exit of Country
Alijon Mirganiyev
Extra Bio Info:
Alijon Mirganiyev is imprisoned for his religious activities.
On June 22, 2022, authorities detained Mirganiyev at Tashkent Airport and accused him of participating in a banned "extremist" organization after tricking him into returning to Uzbekistan. Mirganiyev and his family had moved to Tukey in 2013 after Mirganiyev completed a 2011 prison sentence tied to his peaceful religious activities. Upon his most recent arrest, Mirganiyev was charged with the "creation, management, and participation in religious extremist, separatist, fundamentalist, or other banned organizations" (Art. 244-2 UCC), "illegal exit from or entry into Uzbekistan" (Art. 223-2 UCC), and other drug related charges tied to children and trafficking.
On October 18, 2022, the Zangiota District Criminal Court sentenced Mirganiyev to seven years in prison.
On March 10, 2023, the Tashkent Regional Court heard Mirganiyev's appeal and reduced his sentence to six years and six months, finding the drug and trafficking related charges unsubstantiated.
On April 12, 2023, Mirganiyev was transferred to regime prison No. 12 in Navoi Region.
While living in Turkey, Uzbek authorities harassed Mirganiyev and his family and, in 2019, unsuccessfully attempted to extradite him.
Sources:
- "Uzbekistan: Backsliding on Religious Freedom Promises" Human Rights Watch (HRW)
- "UZBEKISTAN: Devout Muslim jailed after return to country" Forum 18
Additional Name(s): Oybek Hamidov
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Uzbekistan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 5 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: January/17/2022
Date of Sentencing: May/17/2022
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Distributing Religious Materials Giving, Sharing, & Listening to a Religious Speech Online Activity Possession of Religious Materials
Nature of Charges: Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials
Oybek Khamidov
Extra Bio Info:
Oybek Khamidov is imprisoned for his religious activities.
On January 17, 2022, authorities arrested Khamidov for allegedly sharing illegal religious materials on social media to his wife and a few other individuals and for possessing "extremist" sermons on his phone. He was charged with "distributing or displaying materials containing a threat to public security and public order using mass media or telecommunication, or the Internet" (Art. 244-1.3 UCC).
On May 17, 2022, an Andijan court sentenced Khamidov to five years in prison.
Khamidov was previously imprisoned for his religious activities from December 2011 to December 2017.
Sources:
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Photo attributed to ©Private [CC BY-NC-ND 4.0]
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"Uzbekistan: Backsliding on Religious Freedom Promises" Human Rights Watch (HRW)
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"UZBEKISTAN: Latest prosecution for teahouse Islam discussion" Forum 18
Additional Name(s): Zhahongir Ulugmurodov
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Uzbekistan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Reduced to 3 Years' Restricted Freedom
Sentence: Originally 3 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Sentencing: May/8/2023
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Distributing Religious Materials Online Activity Singing, Playing, & Producing Religious Songs & Music
Nature of Charges: Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials
Jahongir Ulugmurodov
Extra Bio Info:
Jahongir Ulugmurodov was imprisoned for his religious activities.
On an unspecified date, authorities detained Ulugmurodov for downloading and sharing a religious song with some classmates that the State Committee on Religious Affairs claims includes "fundamentalist ideas."
On May 8, 2023, a Tashkent court sentenced Ulugmurodov to three years in prison for "distributing or displaying materials containing a threat to public security and public order using mass media or telecommunication, or the Internet" (Art. 244-1.3 UCC).
On July 28, 2023, the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan reduced Ulugmurodov's sentence to three years of restricted freedom and released him from prison.
In December 2023, it was reported that Ulugmurodov would be exempted from his sentence.