TASHKENT — The second journalist protesting media censorship in Uzbekistan has ended her hunger strike due to poor health, RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service reports.
Malohat Eshonqulova told RFE/RL on July 15 that she decided to end her hunger strike after 19 days after she started spitting up blood and could not lift her head.

Eshonqulova added that another reason for ending her strike was that her hospitalized mother-in-law has lapsed into a coma.

Eshonqulova’s colleague, Saodat Omonova, ended her hunger strike on July 12 after being forcibly hospitalized.

Eshonqulova said that once they had recovered they wanted to issue an official statement regarding their hunger strike to international organizations, human rights groups, and journalists.

Omonova and Eshonqulova were detained in Tashkent on June 27 — which is Media Workers’ Day in Uzbekistan — when they tried to start a hunger strike outside President Islam Karimov’s residence.

They were arrested, and a Tashkent district court fined them 2.94 million soms (about $1,500) for holding an unauthorized protest.

The two women were seeking a meeting with Karimov to discuss media censorship at the Yoshlar (Youth) TV station, from which they were both dismissed in December, three days after staging a protest on Tashkent’s main square against media censorship.

They filed a lawsuit for wrongful dismissal against the management of Yoshlar, but on May 31 a district court ruled in favor of the TV station, saying the women’s dismissal was legal. They have appealed that verdict.

Eshonqulova told RFE/RL that since May 2 they have sent 56 letters to Karimov detailing examples of censorship at Yoshlar and requesting a meeting with him. But they have received no response.

http://www.rferl.org/content/second_uzbek_journalist_ends_hunger_strike/24267135.html

Tajikistan has released a correspondent for the BBC who was taken into custody one month ago on suspicion of belonging to a banned Islamic group.

Urunboy Usmonov was freed from jail today in the northern city of Khujand and reunited with his wife, Malohat Abduazimova.

Tajikistan’s Asia-Plus website reported that Tajik Prosecutor General Sherkhon Salimzoda said the government had «studied a criminal case against Usmonov and come to the conclusion [that it] can continue conducting the case without keeping the accused in custody.»

Before he was released, Usmonov told RFE/RL’s Tajik Service correspondent Khiromon Bakoeva by phone that he was «very happy» to be regaining his freedom but not surprised at the turn of events.

«I believed in the justice of Tajikistan’s leaders,» he said. «I am sure that Tajikistan is building a democratic secular state. That is why [my release] was not unexpected for me.»

He spoke only briefly, saying he had been instructed not to give interviews.

Mahmadjon Khayrulloev, a spokesman for the Prosecutor-General’s Office, told RFE/RL earlier that Usmonov’s release was on condition that he did not leave Khujand, in Tajikistan’s northern Sughd Province.

Usmonov, 59, is an ethnic Uzbek citizen of Tajikistan who has worked for the BBC for about 10 years. He was detained on June 13 and accused of belonging to the banned Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir, which he denies. He has said he met with members of the group in the course of doing his job as a journalist.

In a statement, the BBC World Service said it was «delighted» at his release.

BBC Global News Director Peter Horrocks said, «We are encouraged that Tajik authorities have considered our appeals. As we have said all along we believe Urunboy is innocent and all he was doing was his journalistic work for the BBC.»

The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned his arrest as part of the government’s effort to curtail coverage of certain political and religious issues.

As she waited outside the prosecutor’s office for her husband to be released, Malohat Abduazimova told our correspondent that she had only been allowed to see Usmonov once during the month he was detained.

Tajikistan’s Ambassador to Austria Nuriddin Shamsov sent a letter today to the Vienna-based Representative for Freedom of the Media with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Dunja Mijatovic, in which he reinforced Dushanbe’s view on the limits of journalists’ rights.

«Media workers and journalists who perform their duties in a responsible and professional manner and in compliance with the national legislation do not experience any kind of problems in their daily activity,» he said, adding that prosecutions of journalists who have been detained «are taking place openly and transparently and based on rule of law.»

written by Heather Maher based on reporting by RFE/RL’s Tajik and Uzbek services

http://www.rferl.org/content/detained_tajik_bbc_correspondent_to_be_freed/24265591.html

It is now a month since our colleague Urunboy Usmonov was detained by the security services in Tajikistan.

The Tajik authorities have now confirmed that their investigation has been completed and the results have been handed over to the regional prosecutor’s office.

We also note that the Prosecutor General of Tajikistan has requested a summary of the case to be passed to the head of state, President Emomali Rakhmon for information.

The BBC hopes that this process will come to a speedy conclusion and lead to the release of Urunboy Usmonov and the clearing of his name.

The BBC has been clear that it regards the allegations linking the BBC reporter to Hizb ut-Tahrir as completely unfounded.

We believe that meetings and interviews with people representing all shades of opinion are part of the work of any BBC journalist.

We also remain deeply concerned about Urunboy Usmonov’s well being. BBC colleagues have been able to visit and found him to be frail and frightened.

It is now essential that our colleague is released as soon as possible, so that he can return to his family and his work as a respected journalist and writer.

Notes to editors:

Pictures available upon request.

For further information please contact:

Peter Connors
BBC World Service Press Office
Tel: +44 (0)207 557 2941
E-mail: peter.connors@bbc.co.uk

BBC World Service

is an international multimedia broadcaster, delivering a wide range of language and regional services on radio, TV, online and via wireless handheld devices. It uses multiple platforms to reach its weekly audience of 166 million globally, including shortwave, AM, FM, digital satellite and cable channels. Its news sites include audio and video content and offer opportunities to join the global debate. BBC World Service offers its multilingual radio content to partner FM stations around the world and has numerous partnerships supplying content to news websites, mobile phones and other wireless handheld devices as well as TV channels. For more information, visit bbcworldservice.com.

bbcworldservice.com

REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS/ REPORTERS SANS FRONTIÈRES

Press release/ Communiqué de presse

13.07.2011

Anglais : http://en.rsf.org/tadjikistan-worldwide-call-for-bbc-29-06-2011,40553.html

Français : http://fr.rsf.org/tadjikistan-en-detention-depuis-un-mois-13-07-2011,40548.html

TAJIKISTAN : After being held for one month, BBC reporter must be freed without delay

Reporters Without Borders reiterates its call for the release of Urinboy Usmonov, a reporter for the BBC’s Uzbek-language service in the northwestern province of Sughd, who has been held by the Tajik security services for exactly a month on suspicion of links to a banned Islamist group.

Prosecutor general Sherkhan Salimzad announced yesterday that the investigation has been completed and that the case been passed to the Sughd provincial prosecutor’s office.

“The fact that a ‘summary’ of the prosecution case has been sent to President Emomali Rakhmon suggests that all the appeals by journalists and the international community have been noted,” Reporters Without Borders said. “The justice system should nonetheless remain in charge of the case, and we hope that the completion of the investigation leads quickly to an impartial resolution that respects the rules of international law.

“As the investigation is now over, there is nothing to prevent this journalist’s conditional release. This should take place without delay. The justice system’s credibility would be greatly reinforced if all the judicial irregularities that have occurred since Usmonov’s arrest were also the subject of a serious investigation.”

Usmonov was arrested on 13 June because of his alleged links with Hizb-ut-Tahrir, an Islamist party that is outlawed in Tajikistan. He had been covering a trial of members of the party for the BBC.

———————-

TADJIKISTAN : En détention depuis un mois, Ourinboï Ousmonov doit être relâché sans délai

Cela fait maintenant un mois que Ourinboï Ousmonov, correspondant du service ouzbek de la BBC, est détenu par les services de sécurité du Tadjikistan. Le 12 juillet 2011, le Procureur général, Cherkhan Salimzade, a annoncé que l’enquête était close et que le dossier avait été transmis au parquet régional de Sughd (nord-ouest).

“L’envoi d’un ‘résumé’ du dossier d’instruction au président de la République Emomali Rakhmon suggère que les nombreux appels de la profession et de la communauté internationale pourraient avoir été entendus. L’affaire doit cependant rester du domaine de la justice, et nous espérons que la clôture de l’enquête mènera à un dénouement rapide et impartial, dans le respect des règles du droit international. L’enquête étant désormais close, plus rien ne s’oppose à la remise en liberté conditionnelle du journaliste. Celle-ci doit intervenir sans délai. Enfin, la crédibilité de la justice serait grandement renforcée si les vices de procédure constatés depuis l’arrestation de M. Ousmonov faisaient aussi l’objet d’une investigation sérieuse”, a déclaré Reporters sans frontières.

Arrêté le 13 juin dernier, le journaliste est poursuivi pour des liens présumés avec le parti islamiste Hizb-ut-Tahrir, illégal au Tadjikistan. M. Ousmonov couvrait les procès des membres du parti, à la demande de la BBC.

—
Johann Bihr (Йоханн Бир)
Reporters sans frontières / Reporters Without Borders

Bureau Europe & Asie centrale / Europe & Central Asia Desk

T : + 33 1 44 83 84 67
F : + 33 1 45 23 11 51
Skype : europarsf

http://en.rsf.org/tadjikistan-worldwide-call-for-bbc-29-06-2011,40553.html

TASHKENT — Two Uzbek journalists on hunger strike to protest media censorship claim that authorities have thwarted their planned press conference, RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service reports.

Saodat Omonova and Malohat Eshonqulova told RFE/RL that none of the representatives of foreign embassies, international organizations, and human rights organizations invited to their press conference at 10:30 a.m. on July 7 showed up.

Eshonqulova said she believes the embassies did not receive the invitations they sent, while the rights activists and journalists were prevented from coming.

Omonova told RFE/RL that at 10 a.m. the electricity to their house was cut off and up to 20 cars surrounded their home. She said only Surat Ikramov, the head of the Independent Human Rights Defenders of Uzbekistan group, showed up.

Omonova said Zhalol Botiraliev and Dilbar Qosimova, both of them trade union representatives from the Yoshlar (Youth) state TV channel where the two women used to work, also came and that Qosimova started shouting accusations at them.

Omonova said her husband and daughter noticed their home was under surveillance for several days by men in parked cars, and on July 7 by people in police uniform and civilian clothes.

Svetlana Ortiqova, who heads the Uzbek parliament’s legislative and judiciary reform committee, told RFE/RL she did not receive any news about the two journalists and asked RFE/RL to contact her later.

Omonova and Eshonqulova were detained in Tashkent on June 27, which is Media Workers’ Day in Uzbekistan, when they tried to start a hunger strike outside President Islam Karimov’s residence.

They were arrested and a Tashkent district court fined them 2.94 million soms (about $1,500) for holding an unauthorized protest.

The two women were seeking a meeting with Karimov to discuss media censorship at Yoshlar (Youth). They were both dismissed from the station in December, three days after staging a protest on Tashkent’s main square against media censorship.

They filed a lawsuit for wrongful dismissal against the management of Yoshlar, but on May 31 a district court ruled in favor of the TV station, saying the women’s dismissal was legal. They have appealed that verdict.

Eshonqulova told RFE/RL that since May 2 they have sent 56 letters to Karimov detailing examples of censorship at Yoshlar and requesting a meeting with him.

She said that at their protest on June 27, she and Omonova held up placards reading «Dear Islam Karimov, please grant us an audience,» and «We declare a hunger strike.» Today is the 12th day of their hunger strike.

http://www.rferl.org/content/uzbekistan_journalists_hunger_strike/24259987.html

The Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program brings accomplished scholars from Tajikistan to the United States to conduct advanced research at U.S. universities for a period of up to one academic year.
Eligibility:

Applicants must be citizens of Tajikistan residing in Tajikistan at the time of application, or permanent residents holding a valid passport issued by Tajikistan. Applicants must hold a doctoral degree or equivalent professional qualification at the time of application.

Eligible Research Fields:

Agriculture

Dance

Mathematics

American History

Economics

Medical Sciences

American Literature

Education

Music

American Studies

Engineering

Philosophy

Anthropology

Environmental Sciences

Physics/Astronomy

Archaeology

Film Studies

Political Science

Architecture

Geography

Psychology

Art

Geology

Public Administration

Art History

History (non-U.S.)

Public/Global Health

Biological Sciences

Information Sciences

Religious Studies

Business Administration

Journalism

Social Work

Chemistry

Language/Literature (non-U.S.)

Sociology

Communications

Law

TEFL/Applied Linguistics

Computer Science

Science

Theater

Creative Writing

Linguistics

Urban Planning

Selection Criteria:

· Applicants must submit a detailed statement of proposed research activity at a U.S. university (only research grants are available for citizens of Tajikistan).

· Applicants must possess English language proficiency sufficient to achieve the project goals.

· Applicant should demonstrate the intrinsic value of the project to the scholar, his/her home institution, home country, and U.S. institution.

· Applicant should demonstrate the ability to serve as a cultural ambassador for Tajikistan.

Grant Benefits:

Round-trip travel from Tajikistan to a host institution in the United States

Full financial support in the United States

Medical insurance

Access to professional and cultural enrichment opportunities

Application Deadline:

The application deadline is October 01, 2011. Potential applicants can access the online application by going to https://apply.embark.com/student/fulbright/scholars/

Nominations are made by the U.S. Embassy and are reviewed in the United States by independent review committees. The J. William Fulbright Scholarship Board has final approval of all nominees.

To receive additional information regarding the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program please contact the U.S. Embassy at (992) 37-229-2314 or KobilovaS@state.gov.

Shafoat Kabilova

Grant Assistant / Alumni Coordinator

U.S. Embassy/Public Diplomacy Section

109 A, I.Somoni Ave., Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Dushanbe, Tajikistan

e-mail: KobilovaS@state.gov

tel: (992-372) 29 23 14
cell phone (98)580 70 67
http://dushanbe.usembassy.gov

To automatically receive information about our programs, send a blank e-mail message to usembassydushanbeprograms-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

To join the STATE ALUMNI global community, please visit «https://alumni.state.gov» and follow the «Join Now!» link. Interactive and password-protected, alumni.state.gov offers the more than1,000,000 alumni of U.S. government exchange programs a place to network, share information, participate in Q&A Live discussions with experts, and access resources such as grants, jobs, and research databases.

https://alumni.state.gov

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE) representative on freedom of the media has urged Tajik authorities to release detained BBC reporter Urunboy Usmonov.

Dunja Mijatovic said she was still awaiting an official response on Usmonov’s case.

Mijatovic on June 16 sent a letter to Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi in which she called the arrest of Usmonov an attempt to censor reporting on sensitive issues.

Usmonov, who has worked for the BBC Central Asian Service for 10 years, was arrested on June 13 for alleged membership in a radical organization.

http://www.rferl.org/content/osce_urges_tajikistan_release_bbc_reporter/24258728.html

ALMATY — The chief editor of a Kazakh opposition newspaper has filed a lawsuit against the National Security Committee (KNB) for not allowing him to fly to a conference in Europe, RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service reports.

«Vzglyad» chief editor Igor Vinyavsky said in Almaty on July 5 that he has filed lawsuits against the KNB and the Dutch KLM Airlines.

Vinyavsky said that on June 21 the KNB border service and KLM employees took him off a flight to Brussels, where he was going to attend a conference on corruption in Central Asia.

Vinyavsky said he was told by the KNB officials that he had problems with his visa. He said he told them his visa was in order.

Vinyavsky’s lawyer, Sergei Utkin, said visa issues are beyond the competencies of the border service and therefore represents a case of abuse of power.

Vinyvsky said he is going to demand compensation of 500,000 tenge ($3,500) in his lawsuit.

http://www.rferl.org/content/kazakhstan_opposition_editor_lawsuit/24258336.html

The European Union Delegation issues the following statement in agreement with the EU Heads of Mission in Tajikistan

The EU Delegation to Tajikistan welcomes the reported decision by Tajik authorities to drop charges relating to BBC journalist Urunboy Usmonov’s alleged membership of “Hizb-ut-Tahrir”. The EU Delegation remains nevertheless deeply concerned by the fact that charges are, however, still being brought against Mr Usmonov, especially since these charges are related to practices which are generally accepted to be standard journalistic activity. The EU Delegation encourages the relevant Tajik authorities to review these additional charges, and requests that Mr Usmonov be released from detention immediately.

The European Union fully recognize the efforts of the Tajik Government to ensure stability and security within the country, but would also continue to stress the importance of media freedom in Tajikistan, and of adhering to transparent international judicial standards.

www.deltjk.ec.europa.eu

QURGHONTEPPA, Tajikistan — Authorities in southern Tajikistan say they are concerned that young people have returned home from Islamic schools abroad to find no jobs or education opportunities, RFE/RL’s Tajik Service reports.

More than 1,000 young Tajiks studying at foreign madrasahs and Islamic universities returned home in recent months after President Emomali Rahmon warned that foreign religious schools are indoctrinating Tajik students with radical Islamic ideology.

At a meeting of local officials in Khatlon Province on July 1, Nusratullo Mirzoev, a deputy head of the provincial Department for National Security, said the most important task is to establish the exact number of Tajik students in Islamic countries.

Mirzoev said some 225 of the former students who returned home have already left the country again. He said officially they went to Russia as labor migrants but nobody knows their real aims and destinations.

Yusufjon Yusufzoda, a provincial prosecutor, blamed the returnees’ plight on the Khatlon Department of Social Affairs and the Department of Religious Affairs. He said the departments had not done enough to create jobs or education opportunities for the former students and that most of those who came back to Khatlon have nothing to do.

But Bobokhon Sharbatov, the head of the Department for Religious Affairs, said that the constitution guarantees freedom of movement and nobody can stop anybody from traveling.

Sharbatov added that former students write that their main reason for travelling abroad is labor migration but nobody knows if this is true or not.

Sharbatov noted that some 820 students returned from Islamic countries to Khatlon. He added that of those some 485 are employed in rural farms, small businesses, and trade, 70 are studying at school or university, and 26 have been called up for military service.

The meeting concluded that the creation of employment and education opportunities for returned students is the only way to keep them in the province and avoid their returning to Islamic countries or joining extremist religious movements.

http://www.rferl.org/content/tajik_officials_decry_joblessness_among_returned_islamic_students/24253