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Photographer on trial for showing Uzbekistan's unglamorous side
A prominent Uzbek photographer and film director has gone on trial in Tashkent for her work, deemed by the Uzbek authorities to be "insulting" and "damaging to the country's image."
Umida Ahmedova, 54, has been charged with defamation for her collection of photos, "Woman and Man: From Dawn till Night," documenting the lives and hardships of Uzbek villagers, as well as her documentary film, "The Burden of Virginity," which focuses on Uzbek wedding and marriage customs.
If found guilty, Ahmedova faces up to two years in a labor camp or six months in prison.
She rejects the charges as "groundless," saying her works merely reflect Uzbekistan's customs and traditions.
In Paris, the International Association of Art Critics (AICA) has launched a campaign in her support, calling on the Uzbek authorities to acquit her. The organization's appeal was signed by nearly 1,000 artists, art critics, journalists, and rights activists from around the world.