Jehovah’s Witnesses

For Immediate Release
November 21, 2003

Uzbekistan court upholds freedom of religion

TASHKENT—On October 8, 2003, the Presidium of the Tashkent City Court (a Tashkent high court) for Criminal Cases overturned the conviction of 27-year-old Marat Mudarisov, who had earlier been convicted for inciting religious hatred.

Charges had been brought against Mudarisov merely because he identified himself as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, a religious minority in Uzbekistan. On November 29, 2002, Mudarisov was found guilty on charges that he became one of Jehovah’s Witnesses “with the intent of inciting national, racial, and religious hostility,” a decision upheld by an appellate court on February 7, 2003. However, in a letter dated September 3, 2003, the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan advised the legal defense of Mudarisov that it had reviewed his case and filed a protest with the Presidium of the Tashkent City Court for Criminal Cases to have the court decisions for the criminal cases involving M. Mudarisov reversed and the case proceedings dismissed. On October 8, 2003, those court decisions were reversed by the Presidium of the Tashkent City Court, which ruled that Mudarisov’s actions “caused no harm to public order . . .nor threatened to cause such harm.” Additionally, the criminal case proceedings were dismissed.

The case against Mudarisov garnered international attention since the charges were based on Mudarisov’s religious beliefs rather than criminal wrongdoing. By overturning the conviction, the Tashkent City Court underscores Uzbekistan’s Constitution, which guarantees freedom of conscience, as well as international agreements that Uzbekistan had signed. Human rights groups had hoped that Mudarisov’s case would be thrown out, setting a precedent for the handling of other religious rights cases.

Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide rejoice with Mudarisov and thousands of other fellow members in Uzbekistan, who endeavor to carry out their worship peacefully and to manifest their belief in God.

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