Sanat Salimov
Additional Name(s): Sanat Sunnatalievich Salimov, Санат Суннаталиевич Салимов, Санат Суннаталиевич Салимов
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Uzbekistan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: Yes
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 7 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Sentencing: April//2016
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief Singing, Playing, & Producing Religious Songs & Music
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Sanat Salimov
Extra Bio Info:
Sanat Salimov was imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On an unspecified date, police from the Navoi Department of Internal Affairs Division of Terrorism and Extremism detained Salimov, a migrant worker returning to Uzbekistan, after allegedly discovering Arabic songs on his mobile phone. Police held him originally on administrative charges. Salimov was reportedly severely tortured while detained, including beatings and electric shocks and threatened to rape his sister.
In April 2016, Salimov was sentenced to seven years in prison on unspecified charges. Human rights advocates say that Salimov’s prosecution lacked any evidence of Salimov’s guilt or connection to violence; instead, it rested entirely on Arabic-language songs discovered on Salimov’s telephone, which Salimov claims were falsified by security services officers in Navoi.
In September 2022, it was reported that Salimov had been released.