TASHKENT, Uzbekistan- The Birdamlik Solidarity Movement, an Uzbek human rights group, has written a letter to President Islam Karimov demanding the release of human rights activists, journalists, and religious prisoners.

The letter mentions that Karimov released five rights activists in early February in response to European Union pressure, and argues that the President only released them for political reasons.  According to the Birdamlik Solidarity Movement, “the tyrant still oppresses the government, and the innocent people who waste away inside prison walls become mere pawns on a chessboard. What will become of their fate, when they are released, and whether they will ever see the light of day remains unknown.”  The letter requests that Western societies acknowledge that Karimov is only doing the bare minimum to maintain good international relations and asks that they demand more.

The letter was copied to United Nations’ Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, as well the Uzbek Prosecutor’s office and the Uzbek Ombudsman’s office.

For more information, please see:

Inter Press Service – RIGHTS-UZBEKISTAN: ‘EU Must Take Away the Cover’ – 5 March 2008