Jehovah’s Witnesses

For Immediate Release
December 30, 2009

Appeal court upholds conviction of seven women in Tashkent

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan—Appeals have been rejected for seven women, all Jehovah’s Witnesses, who were convicted of “conducting illegal religious activity” and for “violating rules of religious meetings.” Three of the women, 57-year-old Nabieva Mamlakat, 39-year-old Farahova Angelina, and 38-year-old Tashboltaeva Gulchehra, were sentenced to five days of custody, while the other four women were each fined the equivalent of US$1,350.

When the case was first presented to the court, the women explained that they were only socializing together. Judge Sh. Bakayev dismissed the case and the women were sent to their homes but were told to return the following day. When they returned the next day, all seven were summarily convicted and the sentences were imposed. These arrests appear to be compounding a pattern of religious intolerance in Uzbekistan: the number of Jehovah’s Witnesses arrested and prosecuted this year alone now totals more than 50.

The continued intolerance to religious minorities is surprising in view of Uzbekistan’s guarantee of freedom of religion to all its citizens under the Uzbekistan Constitution. Uzbekistan is also a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which, under Article 18, assures citizens religious freedom.

U.S. contact: Philip Brumley, telephone (845) 306-0711
Russian-speaking contact: Yuriy Toporov, telephone +7-727-232-36-62