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Republic of Uzbekistan. The findings of the investigation were also corroborated by
confiscations of material evidence, searches and the results of a scientific expertise of the
literature.
Observations
332.
The Special Rapporteur is grateful for the Government’s detailed response.
Communication sent on 11 May 2006
333. The Special Rapporteur brought to the attention of the Government information she had
received in relation with Abijan Yakubov, a prisoner in labour camp 64/47 in Kiziltep. Abijan
Yakubov was punished by 15 days in an isolation cell for reciting Muslim prayers (namaz).
According to the information received, prisoners at Labour camp 64/47 are prohibited from
saying prayers at all times, in contravention of internal prison regulations which allow prisoners
to say prayers from the time the guards awaken them until curfew time. There are also concerns
that the internal prison regulations, applicable throughout the country, prevent prisoners from
saying dawn prayers before the guards awaken the prisoners.
Observations
334. The Special Rapporteur is concerned that she has not received a reply from the
Government concerning the above mentioned allegation. Furthermore, the Special Rapporteur
would like to refer to her framework for communications, more specifically to the international
human rights norms and to the mandate practice concerning “Persons deprived of their liberty”
(see above para. 1, category III. 2.). In this regard she noted in her 2005 report to the General
Assembly (A/60/399, para. 80) the following: “Because the opportunity to practise one’s religion,
either in private or in public, might easily be restricted by the fact of detention, the Standard
Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners make specific reference to the need for prison
authorities to allow prisoners to observe their religion and to have access to a minister of that
religion.”
Communication sent on 10 August 2006 jointly with the Special Rapporteur on Human
Rights and counter terrorism
335. The Special Rapporteurs sent this communication to raise concern in view of recently
introduced legal amendments restricting the right to promote the bible outside prayer
houses. According to the information received, following a meeting of the heads of the main
confessions organised by the Religious Affairs Department held on 28 July 2006, a number of
changes to the criminal and administrative Codes were announced. In particular these changes
provide that persons who promote the bible outside prayer houses should be fined, and, in case of
repeated attempts, imprisoned. Also the “pastor” of the church to which the person belongs can
be fined or punished. These punishments also apply if a person carries more than one bible since
it is assumed that only one is needed for private use.
Observations
336. The Special Rapporteur is concerned that she has not received a reply from the
Government concerning the above mentioned allegation. She would like to take the opportunity