(WAN/IFEX) – In a 16 June 2004 letter to President Islam Karimov, WAN and the World Editors Forum (WEF) expressed outrage at the continued detention of journalist Ruslan Sharipov and called on him to ensure the journalist’s immediate release. According to reports, Sharipov was eligible for early release on 11 June. But the review commission […]
(WAN/IFEX) – In a 16 June 2004 letter to President Islam Karimov, WAN and the World Editors Forum (WEF) expressed outrage at the continued detention of journalist Ruslan Sharipov and called on him to ensure the journalist’s immediate release.
According to reports, Sharipov was eligible for early release on 11 June. But the review commission in charge of his case, meeting in secret, has reportedly recommended that he continue serving his four-year sentence.
Since March, Sharipov had been allowed to leave prison in the evenings but is required to spend his days in prison. WAN and WEF understand that he is now being forced to spend 23 hours a day in prison – released only for one hour for a meal – in retribution for the international attention his case has received.
Under the recommendation of the review commission, he apparently is to spend his days in prison and his nights at the home of a relative, and will also be required to work for the Uzbek government for the remainder of his sentence. Prosecutors are reportedly preparing this recommendation for submission to the court, but no hearing date has been set.
On 12 June, security forces broke up a demonstration in Tashkent calling for his release. According to reports, officers ripped up placards and photographs of Sharipov and threatened to imprison 10 protesters.
According to WAN and WEF, Sharipov has been unjustly condemned and sentenced on charges, including “engaging in homosexual acts”, which have brought discredit to Uzbekistan throughout the international community. Neither WAN, WEF or any of the other organisations which have investigated Sharipov’s case doubt that the real reason for his continued persecution is punishment for his human rights activities.
WAN awarded its annual press freedom prize, the Golden Pen of Freedom, to Sharipov. The awards ceremony was held in his absence in Istanbul, Turkey, on 31 May, and was attended by the Turkish prime minister, ambassadors and delegates from dozens of countries, and 1,300 newspaper publishers and other senior newspaper executives from 88 countries.
