Amnesty International is concerned that her trial was not carried out in accordance with fair trial standards. The judge apparently did not give witnesses for the prosecution and defense adequate time to respond to questions and reportedly prompted them from their initial signed statements to the police. He also reportedly interrupted Umida Niazova repeatedly while she questioned witnesses. The access to the trial was restricted.

The 32-year-old Umida Niazova was detained on January 22, in Andizhan, in the south-east of the country, near the border with Kyrgyzstan, where she spent the first four days of her detention unable to communicate with the outside world. On January 26 she was moved to the capital Tashkent. She was charged with illegally crossing the Uzbekistani border under Article 223 of the Uzbekistani Criminal Code and with smuggling literature of a subversive and “extremist” nature into the country under Article 246.

The main charge against Umida Niazova — smuggling — relates to an earlier incident on December 21, 2006 when she was detained for nine hours by transport police as she cleared customs at Tashkent airport. She had just returned from a human rights seminar in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Although she was released after questioning, police confiscated her laptop computer, flashcard and passport.

Among the materials contained on the laptop was reportedly the published report on the Andizhan mass killings in May 2005 by the international non-governmental organization (NGO) Human Rights Watch (HRW). Umida Niazova has been working for HRW’s office in Tashkent as a translator. She had previously worked for the international freedom of expression NGOs, Internews and Freedom House.

Umida Niazova can appeal her sentence in the next 10 days.

No related posts.

Here’s Larry Cox’s statement and more from their official press release issued today:

“Stimson’s remarks could not have been more irresponsible. By referring to the international outrage at the U.S.-controlled detention center at Guantanamo Bay as nothing more that a few small demonstrations staged by Amnesty International, is not only wrong but extremely disrespectful. After being rebuked by world leaders, including leaders from allied countries, two UN committees, faith leaders, and people of conscience around the world, it is incredible that anyone would believe that the outrage about Guantanamo rests only with Amnesty International activists. Amnesty International has worked with other human rights organizations, legal associations, faith communities and international bodies in opposing U.S. policies in Guantanamo and will continue to do so as one of a cacophony of voices calling for its closure.

“Attacking attorneys who would take their time, with out recompense, to defend the human rights of people who have been subject to indefinite and arbitrary detention by the U.S. government distracts from the human rights violations that continue to be committed in Guantanamo Bay. Amnesty International stands with the attorneys who are dedicated to protect the internationally recognized rights of all people in custody, and recognizes them as human rights defenders committed to upholding the rule of law.

“Rather than attack the law firms who have courageously and zealously fought for the most fundamental rights for their clients, such as the right to have their detention reviewed by an independent court, perhaps Mr. Stimson should spend his time working to bring the United States back into the community of civilized nations that does not imprison people without charge, without hope and without end.”
Source: Amnesty International

No related posts.