Azizbek
was sentenced to death by the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan in
February 2004, accused of "terrorism" as he was believed
belonging to organizations of supposed religious extremism.
Particularly, he was pointed at as one of the authors of two
terrorist attacks that took place in the near Kyrgyzstan in 2002 and
2003, which killed eight people. His lawyer swears his innocence,
asserting that he was reportedly beaten at the moment of his arrest,
then led unconscious to the prison of Andizhan. Afterwards he was
transferred to Tashkent, where he was allegedly tortured. His family
could not see him for over six months. Later, several members of his
family were jailed too, charged to belong to fundamentalist islamic
groups. On June 3rd 2004, the United Nations Human Rights Committee
(HRC) called the Uzbek authorities for the stay of his execution,
appealing to the International Law that warrants the safety of
inmates, and asking for an inquiry on reported ill-treatment
suffered by Azizbek.
The
appeal to save Azizbek
The
Community of Sant'Egidio invites everybody to share its appeal
aiming to spare Azizbek's life from the execution, sending the
following statement to the competent authorities of Uzbekistan, by
fax or e-mail.
Urgent
appeal brought in by the Community of Sant'Egidio to save the life of
Azizbek Karimov, sentenced to death
Dear
President,
Excellencies
I am writing to express my deep concern over a ruling that sentenced to
death Mr.Azizbek Karimov, even though his doubtful guilt and the alleged
ill-treatments he suffered in prison.
I
urge you to intervene on his behalf to prevent this cruel and inhuman
punishment from being meted out against him. I implore you to ensure that
this cruel and inhuman sentence is not carried out.
the Community of Sant'Egidio
Abolitions, 
Azizbek
was sentenced to death by the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan in
February 2004, accused of "terrorism" as he was believed
belonging to organizations of supposed religious extremism.
Particularly, he was pointed at as one of the authors of two
terrorist attacks that took place in the near Kyrgyzstan in 2002 and
2003, which killed eight people. His lawyer swears his innocence,
asserting that he was reportedly beaten at the moment of his arrest,
then led unconscious to the prison of Andizhan. Afterwards he was
transferred to Tashkent, where he was allegedly tortured. His family
could not see him for over six months. Later, several members of his
family were jailed too, charged to belong to fundamentalist islamic
groups. On June 3rd 2004, the United Nations Human Rights Committee
(HRC) called the Uzbek authorities for the stay of his execution,
appealing to the International Law that warrants the safety of
inmates, and asking for an inquiry on reported ill-treatment
suffered by Azizbek.