Yukorichirchik Courthouse with protest sign
On January 26, Elena Urlaeva, head of the Human Rights Alliance in Tashkent, traveled to the city of Yangibazar in the Yukorichirchik district of Uzbekistan. The human rights defender was hoping to get a copy of a court decision by Judge M. Mirzaev in the case of four Muslim women who were accused of possessing banned religious materials.
The trial of Nasiboy Ashirmatova, Mahsuma Rahimhujaeva, Irodoy Mirzukurova and Mohinur Holmatova took place on January 5, but Judge Mirzaev did not release his decision so that the women could appeal their case, and further threatened the women with large fines for fabricating an administrative case.
Urlaeva went to the court secretary and after protests was finally able to get a copy of the court decision.
The chair of the Yukorichirchik Criminal Court was furious after seeing the protest poster and asked why the police had allowed Urlaeva into the building. The police removed the poster (see above photo).
The Human Rights Alliance will try to help the Muslim women to appeal their case and also to investigate Judge Mirzaev for unlawful actions.
