Case History: Saida Kurbanova
Saida Kurbanova was arrested on 7 December 2012 by the police as a result of the testimony of the two women who had attacked her. It is reported that following the arrest, the hard disk of Saida Kurbanova's computer was confiscated.
Saida Kurbanova is the head of the branch of the non-governmental Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan (HRSU) in Pakhtakor district, Djizak region.
On 7 December 2012, human rights defender Ms Saida Kurbanova was sentenced to 15 days of administrative detention for 'hooliganism', after being attacked by two women who alleged that the human rights defender had been the one to attack them. Saida Kurbanova is the head of the branch of the non-governmental organisation Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan (HRSU) in Pakhtakor district, Djizak region.
Saida Kurbanova was arrested on 7 December 2012 by the police as a result of the testimony of the two women who had attacked her. It is reported that following the arrest, the hard disk of Saida Kurbanova's computer was confiscated.
The human rights defender was charged the same day with 'minor hooliganism' and sentenced to 15 days of administrative detention under Article 183 of Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Her family was unable to hire a lawyer due to financial difficulties. Since her arrest, Saida Kurbanova has been detained in the temporary detention facility of Pakhtakor police station.
On 10 December 2012 a representative of Pakhtakor police station reportedly refused to pass on a food parcel and warm clothes to Saida Kurbanova which her family had brought her. In addition, her release on 21 December 2012 is reportedly subject to her paying for the 15 days spent in the temporary detention facility.
Front Line Defenders is concerned about the use of orchestrated attacks on human rights defenders as a means to accuse them of being the instigator, and consequently charging them fines or sentencing them to administrative detention. Front Line Defenders believes that Saida Kurbanova's sentencing is linked to her human rights activities and fears for her physical and psychological integrity and security while in detention.
Front Line is deeply concerned following acts of intimidation against human rights defender Saida Kurbanova. Saida Kurbanova is the head of the non-governmental organisation, the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan (HRSU), in the Pakhtakor district of the Jizak region. She is also a farmer and a campaigner for farmers' rights.
Since 24 February 2008, Saida Kurbanova has reportedly been under threat of eviction as a result of her organisation of, and participation in, a series of peaceful protests in the past two months to protest against the lack of domestic heating and electricity in the Jizak region. According to information received, Saida Kurbanova has been under pressure from local authorities to leave the region. The head of the Pahtakor District Administration, Ergash Soliyev, has reportedly threatened her relatives, Kabul Sattarov and Murad Hujamuradov, that they will lose their farms if she refuses to leave the Jizak region. Saida Kurbanova has also reportedly been subject to constant surveillance by unidentified persons in plain clothes and on 22 February 2008, she was attacked by a young man who stole her bag.
In May 2007, Saida Kurbanova was subject to a smear campaign by regional media as a result of her work and was called a traitor of the motherland by Ergash Soliyev for internationally publicising the plight of Uzbek farmers. This winter, farmers and citizens in Uzbekistan have suffered gas shortages amidst freezing temperatures.
Front Line believes that Saida Kurbanova has been targeted as a result of her human rights activities and particularly those of the HRSU in defence of the rights of farmers in Uzbekistan. Further concern is expressed for the security and physical and psychological integrity of Saida Kurbanova, and that of her family members and all members of the HRSU.
