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August 22, 2007
An Uzbekistan appeal court upholds conviction for teaching religion
SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan—On August 14, an appeal court in Samarkand denied the appeal of Dilafruz Arziyeva, who was convicted on June 6, 2007, for teaching religion in violation of Article 229-2 of Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code. The trial court sentenced her to two years of correctional labor, with 20 percent of her wages to be remitted to the State budget.
This is the second criminal conviction of one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Samarkand this year for teaching religion. On May 14 Irfon Khamidov was sentenced to two years in a labor camp for the same activity. An appeal court in Samarkand refused to change Khamidov’s sentence. The father of two is currently serving his sentence while his attorneys prepare to appeal his case further.
The attorney for Dilafruz Arziyeva filed evidence of clear violations of Uzbekistan law. For example, no one testified to her having taught religion. Although the prosecutor present at her appeal admitted that the Constitution does not forbid belief and that the literature of Jehovah’s Witnesses has been examined and does not have any anti-state content, he told the court not to change her sentence. He asked Arziyeva why she did not simply read the literature at home and believe. He asked, “Why do you go out on the street and tell others about your belief?”
Freedom of religion exists on the books in Uzbekistan. So in her exercise of religious freedom, Arziyeva not only reads religious literature but wants to share the hope it contains. (Acts 4:20) Before the three-judge panel of the appeal court announced its decision, Arziyeva said to the judges, “I trust this court and trust that you will give me a positive decision.” Despite the disappointing decision rendered, Arziyeva now hopes that the larger issue of freedom of religion will be resolved favorably so that she and others can follow the example of first-century Christians and freely tell people about the message of hope found in the Bible.
Contact: J. R. Brown, telephone: (718) 560-5600