FREE

NOSIR ZOKIR!

 

Washington, 8-27-05

 

The Congress  of Democratic Uzbekistan strongly condemns sentencing and jailing of Nosir Zokir, correspondent of the US Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (“Ozodlik”) in Namangan province of the country.

Nosir Zokir, actor, poet and singer turned to become well known journalist, advocate and campaigner for country's independence and democratic reforms for more than fifteen years, who had been also a leader of the opposition democratic Birlik party in Namangan province, for about ten years, had been deprived freedom on August 26 and sentenced for six months in jail.

Back in 1993, he - then correspondent for Ozodlik also - had been falsely accused with possessing narcotics (police planted illegal drugs into his pocket after his arrest), sentenced to three years of imprisonment, and released in about a year after strong pressure from the international democratic community. 

The Congress  of Democratic Uzbekistan calls Uzbek government and its judiciary immediately to reconsider Nosir Zokir's sentence and free him. Imprisoning one of the best known singers of Uzbekistan's independence, justice and freedom for all, in the eve of the  14th anniversary of country's independence, is a ridiculous act.

 

We call all who care about fate of Uzbekistan and freedom for its people to join our campaign for release of Nosir Zokir and all other democratic activists in the country.

 

Freedom to Nosir Zokir!

The Congress  of Democratic Uzbekistan

Contacts:

Jahangir Mamatov, formerly member of Uzbekistan's parliament - jahongir@jahongir.org , 571-203-9225 (h) , 571.277.0140 (m)

Dr. AbduMannob Polat, formerly Chairman of the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan and Director, Central Asian Human Rights Information Network - AbduMannob@yahoo.com, 703-426-9637 (home/office), 571-344-3013 (cell)