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November 21, 2002
Uzbekistan Court suddenly releases Jehovah’s Witness as prosecution continues
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan —On November 21, 2002, Judge Sherzod Usmanov of the Akmal Ikramovskiy Court did a sudden turnabout and decided to release Marat Mudarisov, a 26-year-old Jehovah’s Witness, after four months of pretrial detention. He was detained on July 19, 2002, and was subsequently charged with inciting religious hatred, a criminal offense of under Article 156.1 of Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code.
The trial that began on October 16 has stretched over the last month, with the court sitting intermittently for an hour or two during each of nine trial days.
“I was surprised but overjoyed,” said a smiling Mudarisov as he walked out of the prisonlike cage in the courtroom. “I can now see my family and my spiritual brothers and sisters face-to-face rather than from behind bars. I know my God, Jehovah, has answered their prayers and mine. I pray that the judge will see that my peaceful Christian activity is not criminal and will not send me back to prison.”
“It is a significant step forward,” said Rustam Satdanov, attorney for Mudarisov. “We have been asking for this ever since he was imprisoned. There was nothing new in the request we again made today. There has never been any justification to deprive Mr. Mudarisov of his liberty pending the verdict.”
Co-defense lawyer, Arli Chimirov cautioned: “While I am pleased, everyone should remember that this is not an acquittal. The prosecution has not quit, and we continue at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow. A conviction could still lead to a prison sentence. There has been a sustained presence of media and international observers, which emphasizes that there are serious constitutional rights this court needs to protect. I hope everyone doesn't go home now.”
The hearing continues on Friday, November 22, with testimony from a prosecution expert witness from the Committee on Religion at the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Contact: J. R. Brown, telephone: (718) 560-5600