Uzbekistan: The Birlik organization (January 1999 - May 1999)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 May 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | UZB31804.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Uzbekistan: The Birlik organization (January 1999 - May 1999), 1 May 1999, UZB31804.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab582c.html [accessed 2 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
For information on the status of Birlik and the treatment of its members current to 7 January 1999, please consult UZB30793.E of 7 January 1999.
A 11 February 1999 Union of Councils for Soviet Jews (UCSJ) article, which contains a "list of prisoners [in Uzbekistan] who are believed to have been jailed solely for political or religious reasons," and which, in some cases, "is a result of the government's campaign against the independent Islamic movement," mentions three cases linked to Birlik:
6. Kutbitdinov, Abdurashid. Arrested on April 7, 1996. Member of the Birlik (Unity) movement, businessman. Found guilty of financial violations, but it is strongly believed that his prosecution was mainly politically motivated.
58. Askarov, Obidkhon (born in 1962). Arrested in the fall of 1992 and sentenced to five years in prison for "hooliganism." The authorities refused to apply to him about ten amnesties that have been issued since then. Askarov's term has expired, but he has not been released yet. Reportedly, he was a member of the Birlik (Unity) movement.
59. Ishonboev, Okilbek (born in 1962). Arrested on May 17, 1994. Sentenced to three years in prison on December 21st. He was accused of weapons possession. His term has expired but he had not been released yet. Reportedly, he was a member of the Birlik movement. In addition, he was an active participant in the strike at the Namangan Machine-Building Plant in 1992 which demanded the release from jail of Adolat members.
A 13 April 1999 UCSJ Position Paper states:
The explosion of six bombs on February 16th in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in what may have been an attempt to assassinate the country's president Islam Karimov, killed at least 15 people and injured over 100...In addition, some of President Karimov's open political opponents, such as leaders of the banned Birlik and Erk parties, alleged that he is behind the bombings in order to justify a crackdown on dissent....
In addition, trials stemming from the wave of arrests of independent Islamic activists since December 1997 are continuing. The Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan, RFE/RL and Amnesty International reported on March 8, 1999 that Akhmadkhon Turakhanov, a 59 year old member of Birlik and the Independent Human Rights Organization, collapsed in court towards the end of his trial on March 5, 1999. Despite the fact that he suffers from diabetes, he was reportedly not received proper medical care since his detention in December 1998 on charges that he had called for the "overthrow of the constitutional order of Uzbekistan." Reportedly, the charge stems from his open criticism of the local government. After a trial during which reportedly he was not allowed to have any contact with his lawyer, Mr. Turakhanov was sentenced to five and half years in prison and lost consciousness when the judge was announcing his sentence term. Reportedly, his real "offense" was that he helped people write complaints against local officials. As a Moslem believer and a chairman of the Namangan city branch of the banned opposition Birlik movement, Mr. Turakhanov is a typical example of a "usual suspect," to be rounded up on a regular basis whenever it suits the Uzbek government's needs.
No additional information on Birlik in Uzbekistan could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Union of Councils for Soviet Jews (UCSJ), Washington, DC. 13 April 1999. Abdumannob Polat and Nickolai Butkevich. "Human Rights and Policy Implications in the Aftermath of the Tashkent Bombings." [Internet].
_____. 11 February 1999. "Uzbekistan: List of Possible Political Prisoners of Conscience." [Internet].
Additional Sources Consulted
Electronic sources: IRB databases, Internet, NEXIS/LEXIS, WNC.
Resource Centre country file on Uzbekistan. January 1999 - March 1999.
Transitions [Prague]. January 1999 - March 1999.
