Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Uzbekistan

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 5 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: November/22/2020

Date of Sentencing: November/27/2020

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Criticizing Religious Freedom Conditions Online Activity Protesting Religious Freedom Conditions Religious Appearance Religious Freedom Advocacy Women’s Rights

Nature of Charges: Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials

Tulkun Astanov

Extra Bio Info:

Tulkun Astanov is imprisoned for his religious freedom advocacy and for protesting religious freedom conditions.

On November 22, 2020, authorities arrested Astanov, a religious freedom advocate, after he protested in front of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's house, calling for the release of an imprisoned Qur'an reciter.

On November 27, 2020, the Tashkent's Uchteppa District Criminal Court sentenced Astanov to five years in prison after prosecutors argued Astanov violated the terms of his probation. In October 2019, the Tashkent City Criminal Court imposed a five year suspended sentence on Astanov for visiting the state-controlled Muslim Board to discuss restrictions on Muslims' freedom of religion and belief such as the ban on religious veiling. He was reportedly 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). In April 2019, Astanov was sentenced to 15 days in prison for criticizing religious freedom conditions.

On January 5, 2021, the Tashkent City Criminal Court rejected Astanov's appeal.

Prison authorities have reportedly banned Astanov from reading the Qur'an and praying the namaz. 

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