Oct. 15
UZBEKISTAN:
Death penalty/Fear of imminent execution
Published: 16.10.2004
Sodik Kodirov (m), born 1974 and Shukhrat Aripov (m), born 1969.
The two men named above are believed to be in imminent danger of
execution. Both were allegedly tortured or ill-treated before they were
put on trial.
Sodik Kodirov and Shukhrat Aripov were sentenced to death in separate
cases, on charges including "premeditated, aggravated murder," by courts
in the capital, Tashkent, on 7 December 2003 and 6 January 2004
respectively.
Shukhrat Aripov's parents had official permission to visit him in Tashkent
prison on 14 October. However, when they arrived, prison officials would
not let them see him. Amnesty International has documented dozens of cases
in which relatives were denied access because their sons or husbands had
been secretly executed. However, human rights defender Dilobar
Khudoberganova from the Uzbek-based group Mothers against the Death
Penalty and Torture told Amnesty International: "We have been told that
several death row prisoners were severely beaten by prison guards
recently. So maybe the parents weren't given access to Shukhrat so that
they wouldn't see his injuries. We have to hope that this is the case."
Sodik Kodirov's mother visited her son in Tashkent prison on 14 October.
He reportedly told her that officials had visited him recently and said,
"You will not live longer than 12 November. The stay of your execution
requested by the United Nations runs out that day."
On 12 May 2004 the United Nations Human Rights Committee had urged the
Uzbek authorities to stay Sodik Kodirov's execution while the Committee
considered allegations that he had been tortured, and suffered other
serious human rights violations. The Committee is still considering his
case, and that of Shukhrat Aripov, on whose behalf it made a similar
intervention on 18 May 2004. Uzbekistan has ratified the first Optional
Protocol to the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights
(ICCPR), and has committed itself not to execute anyone whose case is
under consideration by the Human Rights Committee. However, Amnesty
International knows of 14 such prisoners who have been executed in
Uzbekistan.
Sodik Kodirov's mother told Amnesty International: "During the
investigation my son wasn't only tortured, he was also raped. When I saw
my son in detention on 10 June 2004 he didn't even recognize me. He was so
badly beaten that he couldn't walk unaided." She alleges that
investigators used a sharp object to injure her son: "When I saw him he
had cuts all over his body as a result of the torture."
"My son spoke about the torture in court but the judge simply ignored his
words and said he was trying to escape responsibility", she added.
Shukhrat Aripov was reportedly severely
beaten by police following his detention.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Amnesty International regularly receives credible allegations of unfair
trials, and the use of torture and ill-treatment, often to extract
"confessions", from Uzbekistan.
In September 2001, President Islam Karimov stated publicly that around 100
people were executed in Uzbekistan each year. As vital information on the
application of the death penalty is treated as a secret, the true figures
are not known, but several local human rights groups believe it is over
200.
Following his visit to Uzbekistan in November - December 2002, the United
Nations Special Rapporteur on torture concluded that "torture or similar
ill-treatment is systematic" in Uzbekistan. In his February 2003 report,
he noted that "the abolition of the death penalty would be a positive step
towards respect for the prohibition of torture and other forms of
ill-treatment."
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in English, Russian,
Uzbek or your own language:
urging the President to grant clemency to Shukhrat Aripov, Sodik Kodirov
and all other death row prisoners;
stating that you know of 14 cases in which death row prisoners were
executed even though the UN Human Rights Committee had asked the Uzbek
authorities to stay their executions while it considered their cases;
urging the authorities to give you guarantees that nobody will be executed
whose case is under consideration by the Committee;
urging the authorities to promptly introduce a moratorium on death
sentences and executions.
Please note that it may be difficult to send faxes. If a voice answers
during office hours, repeat 'fax' until connected; fax machines may be
switched off outside office hours (five hours ahead of GMT)
President of Uzbekistan
Islam Abduganiyevich KARIMOV; Respublika Uzbekistan; 700163 Tashkent,
Uzbekistan St., 43;
President KARIMOV I.A.
Salutation: Dear President Karimov
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Sodik Solihovich SAFOYEV; Respublika Uzbekistan; 700029, Tashkent,
Mustakillik Sq., 5;
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Safoyev, S.S.
Fax: + 998 71 139 15 17
Salutation: Dear Minister
COPIES TO:
General Procurator of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Rashidjon Hamidovich KODIROV; Respublika Uzbekistan; 700047, Tashkent,
Qulamov St., 66
General Prosecutor KODIROV R. Kh.
Fax: + 998 71 133 39 17
Salutation: Dear Procurator General
and to diplomatic representatives of UZBEKISTAN accredited to your
country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat,
or your section office, if sending appeals after 26 November 2004.
(source: Amnesty International)
