Jehovah’s Witnesses

For Immediate Release
October 18, 2002

Britain’s ambassador calls attention to prosecution of Jehovah’s Witness in Uzbekistan

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan—On October 17, 2002, Britain’s ambassador to Uzbekistan, Craig Murray, commented on religious persecution in Uzbekistan. Among examples, he identified the current prosecution of 26-year-old Marat Mudarisov, one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, whose trial began in Tashkent at the Akmal Ikramovskiy Court on October 16.

Ambassador Murray delivered his formal statement at the opening of Freedom House in Tashkent on October 17, along with Ambassador John Herbst of the United States and Ambassador Martin Hecker of Germany. Among other things, Ambassador Murray stated: “The British Embassy yesterday observed the trial of a Jehovah’s Witness being prosecuted for pursuing his beliefs. It should not be a crime to practice your religion, nor to tell others about it.”

The trial continues at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, October 21, before Judge Usmanov, who will decide whether to release Mudarisov from pretrial detention pending the trial’s outcome. The decision will also be made on Mudarisov’s request to be represented by Moscow attorney, Arli Chimirov, a Russian advocate with experience in defending similar cases in other C.I.S. countries.

Marat Mudarisov has been in pretrial detention since July 19, 2002, when he was first arrested. Charges carry a sentence of up to five years in prison.

Contact: J. R. Brown, telephone: (718) 560-5600