Laziz Vokhidov
Gender: Male
Current Location: Investigation Prison No. 5 in Karshi (Shaykhali Prison)
Perpetrator: Uzbekistan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: Yes
Sentence: 10 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: June/18/2024
Date of Sentencing: December/18/2024
Current Status: Not Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Discussing Religion & Religious Texts
Nature of Charges: Extremism
Laziz Vokhidov
Extra Bio Info:
Laziz Vokhidov is imprisoned for his independent religious activity.
On June 18, 2024, police arrested Vokhidov and seven other Muslims after six of them had attended a meal at the home of a state employee on that day. Reportedly, the employee regularly arranges meetings for Muslims during which he encourages attendees to make illegal statements while secretly recording them. During the arrests, police were dressed in military camouflage, carried machine guns, and used force. The Kashkadarya Regional Police Criminal Investigation Department charged Vokhidov with "attempting to change the constitutional order" (Art. 159.3 UCC), "producing, storing, distributing, or displaying materials containing a threat to public security and public order" (Art. 244-1.3(d) UCC), and "creating, leading, or participating in religious extremist, separatist, fundamentalist or other banned organizations" (Art. 244-2.1 UCC).
On December 18, 2024, the Karshi Criminal Court sentenced Vokhidov to ten years in a strict regime prison.
Vokhidov was previously sentenced to at least 12 years in prison in 2004 for his independent religious activity.
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