Case History: Dilmurod Sayid
On 3 February 2018, human rights defender and journalist Dilmurod Sayid was released on parole from penal colony 64/51 in Karshi, Uzbekistan.
Uzbek human rights defender, Mr Dilmurod Sayid, was sentenced to 12.5 years of imprisonment on 30 July 2009, following a procedurally flawed trial launched as retaliation for his work to expose corruption. Sayid was accused by the authorities of "extortion" and "manufacturing, forging documents, stamps and seals." His health is deteriorating since he developed acute tuberculosis in prison, and recent reports by his family indicate he is suffering from depression.
Dilmurod Sayid is an independent journalist in Uzbekistan and a member of the Tashkent regional branch of Human Rights Society “Ezgulik”. He writes as an independent journalist for the internet site “Voice of Freedom”. He has also worked to defend the rights of farmers in the Samarkand region, whose lands were illegally seized by the local administration. Inquiries were opened against a certain number of civil servants after Dilmurod Sayid denounced corruption in the Djambaj district of the Samarkand region.
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- 8 February 2018 : Dilmurod Sayid released from penal colony
- 1 January 2014 : Imprisoned Uzbek journalist Dilmurod Sayid has lost hope of early release
- 21 September 2010 : Human rights defender Dilmurod Sayid sentenced to 12.5 years of imprisonment
- 3 March 2009 : Arrest and detention of human rights defender, Mr Dilmurod Sayid
On 3 February 2018, human rights defender and journalist Dilmurod Sayid was released on parole from penal colony 64/51 in Karshi, Uzbekistan.
On 30 July 2009, the defender was sentenced to twelve and a half years in prison following a procedurally flawed trial on charges of “extortion” and of “manufacturing [and] forging documents, stamps [and] seals.” Dilmurod Sayid categorically denied all charges.
While in detention, the defender was subjected to ill-treatment and on 1 July 2017, was also accused of violating “prison rules,” thereby excluding him from any possibility of early release. On 19 January 2018, those restrictions were lifted.
In 2009, Dilmurod Sayid’s wife and six year old daughter were killed in a car accident while traveling to visit him in prison in Navoi.
Front Line Defenders welcomes the release of Dilmurod Sayid, but remains concerned about the situation of other imprisoned human rights defenders in Uzbekistan and calls for their release.
Uzbek human rights website Jarayon has reported that imprisoned journalist and human rights defender Dilmourod Sayid is facing deteriorating health and has given up hope of an early release on compassionate grounds.
Mr Dilmurod Sayid was sentenced to 12.5 years of imprisonment on 30 July 2009, following a procedurally flawed trial which had allegedly been instigated by politically-motivated charges. Sayid, who is an independent journalist, was accused by the authorities of “extortion” and “manufacturing, forging documents, stamps, seals.” During the trial the journalist categorically denied all charges.
The imprisoned human rights defenders has suffered from acute tuberculosis since his imprisonment in 2009 and his brother, Obid Saidov, has reported to Jarayon that Sayid has lost a significant amount of weight and seems very depressed.
Sayid's 34-year-old wife Barno Jumanova and their 6-year-old daughter Rukhshona were both tragically killed in a car accident in 2009. The accident happened as the pair were traveling to Sayid's prison in Navoi to visit him.
Local and international human rights organisations and the media have claimed that the criminal case against the journalist was fabricated, and believe that Dilmurod Sayid was imprisoned for his professional activities. After the trial, some witnesses retracted their statements, while others said they had testified against the journalist under pressure of Uzbek security services.
Along with the questions about his trial, Obid Saidov has called for an amnesty for his brother on compassionate grounds, stating that Sayid has suffered enough already.
Uzbek human rights defender, Mr Dilmurod Sayid, was sentenced to 12.5 years of imprisonment on 30 July 2009, following a procedurally flawed trial which had allegedly been instigated by politically-motivated charges.
On 30 July 2009, the Tailak Distict court of Uzbekistan sentenced Dimurod Sayid to 12.5 years of imprisonment under Articles 165 (extortion) and 228 (forgery) of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan. The verdict was passed behind closed doors and neither his lawyer, Ruhiddin Komilov, his public defender, Abdurakhman Tashanov, nor his family members had been informed of the trial date in advance.
On 22 February 2009, Dilmurod Sayid was arrested at his home on charges of extortion by the Tashkent branch of the State Tax Committee, under orders from the General Prosecutor's Office of Uzbekistan.
Following numerous inconsistencies in the investigation and violations of fair trial standards in which court hearings were repeatedly conducted without notice to defence lawyer, the trial began in June 2009.
During the trial several key witnesses withdrew their testimonies and stated that they had been pressurised into giving false evidence against Dilmurod Sayid, however the state prosecutor nonetheless asked the judge for a punishment of 14.5 years of imprisonment.
Dilmurod Sayid suffers from acute tuberculosis and there is serious risk for his health in detention without adequate treatment.
Front Line believes that the sentencing of Dilmurod Sayid is a direct response to his legitimate and peaceful activities in defence of human rights in Uzbekistan, in particular his efforts to expose local officials' abuse of power and corruption and his willingness to fight for the rights of farmers in the Samarkand region. Front Line believes that the imprisonment of Dilmurod Sayid forms part of a pattern of repression by the Uzbek authorities against human rights defenders.
Front Line is concerned following information received regarding the arrest of Uzbek human rights defender Mr Dilmurod Sayid, in Tashkent, on 22 February 2009. Late in the evening, on 22 February 2009, Mr Dilmurod Sayid was arrested by the Tashkent branch of the State Tax Committee, under orders from the General Prosecutor's Office of Uzbekistan. He has reportedly been charged with extortion. The same evening, he was brought to Samarkand where an investigation is currently being carried out.
Dilmurod Sayid had previously received threats from the local administration of the Samarkand region.
Uzbek human rights defenders and Front Line consider that the arrest of Dimurod Sayid, especially given that he has been charged with extortion, may be directly related to his peaceful and legitimate work in the defence of human rights, in particular his work to expose corruption in the Samarkand region.
