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Uzbekistan rights defender jailed
The Uzbek government should immediately release a human rights defender convicted on fabricated religious extremism charges, Human Rights Watch said today.
On March 9, 2010, in an appeals hearing that lasted only about 20 minutes, the Kashkadarya Regional Criminal Court upheld a 9-year prison sentence for Gaibullo Jalilov, a Karshi-based human rights defender and member of the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan. The court rejected the appeal despite the apparent absence of any credible evidence of criminal activity and Jalilov's testimony during his trial that he was coerced into signing a false "confession."
"We are very worried about Jalilov's safety and well-being," said Holly Cartner, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "Authorities should release Jalilov immediately, drop the charges against him, and investigate thoroughly his possible ill-treatment in detention."