Conscientious objectors were tortured in Turkmen prisons; ASHGABAT—Six Jehovah's Witnesses in the republic of Turkmenistan revealed the torture they suffered while imprisoned for their conscientious objection to military service. They were unconditionally released from prison on June 11 and 12, 2004. During imprisonment spanning one to five years, the six were regularly subjected to severe beatings and some were threatened with death in an attempt to make them compromise their conscience and their religious beliefs. Their bodies are extremely weakened by anemia and malnutrition resulting from the harsh prison conditions. They are now being cared for by their families. One of the prisoners, Kurban Zakirov, was held in the maximum-security prison of Turkmenbashi, where he was made a special target of the Ministry of the Interior's infamous "6th Department." He was viciously beaten and was regularly deprived of food and sleep. He contracted tuberculosis, further accelerating his physical deterioration. Finally home after five years in prison, he remains critically ill. Friends caring for him suspect that he was forcibly injected with mind-altering drugs by prison personnel. Doctors examining him found his arms covered with needle marks from injections. The unconditional release of these six young men was apparently due to an amnesty for conscientious objectors announced on national television by the president of Turkmenistan, Sapamurat Niyazov. President Niyazov reportedly ordered an investigation into the imprisonment of Jehovah's Witnesses in that country. In spite of the amnesty, two other prisoners, Mansur Masharipov and Vepa Tuvakov, also Jehovah's Witnesses, have not been released. They were imprisoned in May and June of this year because of their conscientious objection to military service. Since the physical condition of the six young men released gives disturbing evidence of extreme physical abuse, the families of the two Witnesses recently imprisoned fear that their loved ones will suffer this cruel treatment as well. Philip Brumley, General Counsel for Jehovah's Witnesses, wrote to President Niyazov, calling on him to recognize basic human rights and include the other two Jehovah's Witnesses who are still imprisoned in Turkmenistan in the amnesty. He added that since "Jehovah's Witnesses are a peaceful religious group, they pose no threat to the government." Mr. Brumley expressed guarded optimism that these two new prisoners of conscience will be released soon. European media contact: Christian Presber U.S. and other media contact J.R. Brown:
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