A/HRC/13/40/Add.1 where he sustained multiple beatings and ill-treatment as punishment for his praying. Negmat Zufaraov’s family wrote letters of concern about his ill-treatment to the Uzbek Ministry of Internal Affairs Directorate of Prison, the General Prosecutor’s Office, and the Ombudsman’s office – the responses were dismissive and no action was taken in response to the allegations. 232. In 2004, Negmat Zufaraov was transferred to a prison in Chirchik, and then subsequently to Zarafshan prison colony. In spring 2007, he was sentenced to an additional 20 months in prison to be served in Zarafshan, allegedly for violating prison rules. His family had not been informed in advance of the charges, nor were they sent a copy of the verdict. Whilst he was at Zarafshan prison, Negmat Zufaraov was allegedly subjected to torture and ill-treatment over several years. In particular, he was beaten by four fellow inmates with plastic bottles filled with water, and regularly placed in an isolation cell as punishment for praying. Even when he was in isolation, the fellow inmates who had beaten Negmat Zufaraov, were allowed access to him, and continued to beat him. In mid-May 2009, Negmat Zufaraov commenced a hunger strike, demanding that he be allowed to pray. After six days, he was force-fed by prison authorities, who also performed a forced enema on him, using pepper solution. The beatings allegedly continued after his hunger strike. 233. When his family visited him between 2 and 5 June 2009, Negmat Zufaraov informed them that he was being subjected to intensified ill-treatment in prison, to the point where he feared for his life. On 16 June 2009, prison authorities telephoned Negmat Zufaraov’s family and informed them that he had committed suicide. His body was delivered to his family who were also given a death certificate stating that he had died of “mechanical asphyxiation”. However, Negmat Zufaraov’s body displayed signs of ill-treatment, including wounds to the head, visible blood clots, a hematoma on his neck, and bruises on his back. Negmat Zufaraov’s family was instructed by the prison authorities to bury him the next morning, without any opportunity for a medical examination of his body. The burial was observed by police, who also monitored the family’s house in the days following the return of Negmat Zufaraov’s body. 234. In 2000, the brother of Negmat Zufarov, Sobit Zufarov, was also arrested for religion-related charges. In spite of a serious medical condition, he was sentenced to 8 years’ imprisonment in a strict regime prison in 2000, and is currently serving time in Prison Colony 46 in Navoi region. In January 2008, just prior to his release date, Sobit Zufaraov was charged with violating prison rules, and was sentenced to a further 3 years and 6 months imprisonment. There have been reports that Sobit Zufaraov was being illtreated in prison, including being placed in an isolation cell for up to six months as punishment for praying. In light of above allegations of isolation, concern is expressed in relation to Sobit Zufarov’s physical and psychological integrity. 235. The Special Rapporteurs appealed to the Government to ensure the right to freedom of religion or belief in accordance with the principles set forth in the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination based on Religion or Belief and article 18 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights as well as of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Furthermore, they referred to General Assembly resolution 63/181, in which the Assembly recognizes with concern the situation of persons in vulnerable situations, including persons deprived of their liberty. The Special Rapporteurs also recalled the conclusions of the Human Rights Committee in a custodial death case (Dermit Barbato v. Uruguay, communication no. 84/1981 of 21 October 1982, paragraph 9.2) and indicated that, in order to overcome the presumption of State responsibility for a death in custody, there must be a “thorough, prompt and impartial investigation of all suspected cases of extra-legal, arbitrary and summary executions, including cases where complaints by relatives or other reliable reports suggest unnatural death in the above circumstances” (Principle 9 of the Principles on the Effective Prevention 55