''I do not call you to die for the homeland. I call you to live the homeland. To live for the homeland is not to be afraid of dyning for it''

                                                                                                                   Muhammed SALIH

THE LAST ADVERSARY OF THE DICTATOR

By Mehmet Tütüncü

February 2002

Harlem

President Islam Karimov, a Central Asian dictator, extended his office term through a fake referendum held in January 2002. Mr. Karimov took good advantage of the fact that Uzbekistan has so far been a close companion of the U.S. in fight against terrorism.

Muhammed Salih, the long-time adversary of Karimov was arrested at the Prague airport of the Czech Republic on November 28, 2001. Police in Prague said Salih was wanted by the Uzbek state and that he had to be extradited in accordance with the agreement.

USA recognizes M.Salih as the leader of a democratic fight in Uzbekistan. The statement was made by a U.S.government official on Voice of America on 25th September 2000. It also recognized his party, ERK, as a legal and lawful opposition.

An assassination plan:

Karimov has been struggling to defeat his opposed Salih for as long as 10 years. In May 2001, 2 million USD was paid to realize the assassination plan towards Salih. Mikhail Markelov produced a documentary on the event in 2001. It was released on TV Center (Russian Channel) last year. (Brief account of the documentary would be proper for this article)

“OUR VERSION: UNDER

THE SIGNATURE STAMP"SECRETLY”

The first sequences - political life of post-Soviet countries. On the screen - Michael Markelov. M. Markelov: - Good evening! Michael Markelov is with you. The third part of the program "Our version: Under the signature stamp - Secretly" is on the air. Recently President of sunny Uzbekistan Islam Karimov paid Russia a goodwill visit. Before collapsing of the Union, Uzbekistan was famous with its cotton, with its best pilaf in Central Asia, soccer team "Pakhtakor", famous Bukharian carpets as well as Asia hospitality. Generally speaking, it is an abundant land. Besides, Uzbekistan was our strategic springboard in the complicated Central Asian region. Because of the closeness of fighting Afghanistan caused politicians all over the world to pay intently attention to Central Asia.... All political oppositions to the President Islam Karimov are in forced political exile, i.e. (that is to say) in foreign countries. One of the most dangerous to Karimov and his closest associates is the leader of the opposition Salay Madaminov, more famous in Uzbekistan by his pen name as Muhammad Salih, lives and works in Norway.

Muhammad Salih: "I left Uzbekistan in 1993 under pressure of the Uzbekistan's authorities, to say the least of it. In reality, literally my life was in danger. I was warned by faithful to me sources from the Ministry of Home affairs that Karimov, President of Uzbekistan wants seriously to get rid of me - the leader of opposition. Because of this I had to leave Uzbekistan on April of 1993".

+Shots of the political life of Uzbekistan in 80 and photos of Muhammad Salih, speaking at the meeting.

+Shots from February 19th of 1999, Tashkent explosions.

M. Markelov's voice:

"In 1999 in Tashkent it thundered explosions. "Zaporodjetz" car filled with explosive and left in front of the National Bank and National Security Service of Uzbekistan's buildings was torn into pieces. The most powerful explosion thundered near the Government building. In the result of the explosions innocent people died, nobody from the authorities of the Republic did not suffer. Before the investigation (of this event) Karimov accused Islamists, as well as Muhammad Salih in this act of terrorism...

In 2000, an Uzbek businessman, a former worker of the Ministry of Home affairs of Uzbekistan by the name of Bahram Muminakhunov, who worked in Moscow and was engaged in a cotton business with Chechen partners flew Tashkent. His former fellow workers invited him to Tashkent. They invited him to a talk to the National Security Service of Uzbekistan, and then to Interpol. ''

These representatives of the Chechen people by coincidence knew Muhammad Salih too. Representatives of the National Security Service of Uzbekistan asked our hero Bahram Muminakhunov to organize a meeting with the group of Chechens. Muminakhunov didn't know in what a complicated situation he will be. He fulfills the request of the Uzbek security officers - Interpol workers. The witness is Bahram Muminakhunov.

TV journalist's question: "What kind of friends they were whom you brought to Tashkent?" B. Muminakhunov:

"These lads are Chechens. They are normal people who worked; they had connections with Muhammad Salih. Well, in general, they told me: "You know, they suggested us to eliminate him. They offered (us) for this money. What do you think about this?" I told them: "What can I say about this. This is your decision, decide yourself. Generally speaking, what's the question?" Well, when they had gone, I was called by one of the top authorities of the National Security Service and MVD (=Ministry of Home affairs) and said: "Do you understand that there exist such problems, that he (=Salih) is number 1 terrorist for Uzbekistan, it is he who had organized explosions in the territory of Uzbekistan, he is a real wahhabit, and he is going to disturb the situation in Uzbekistan As far as you know these Chechens well, we entrust this job to you as a citizen of Uzbekistan." "

TV journalist's question:

"In what sense they 'entrust this job to you'?"

B. Muminakhunov: "They entrust the problem of abolishment, the problem of agreement between them, the problem of sum in cash, and how these money will be paid for."

TV journalist: "I beg your pardon, did I understand you rightly, they suggested you to be a mediator between Chechens and 'customers' who ordered Salih?"

B. Muminakhunov: "Well, in general this 'job' continued for several months; first they did not agree about the price. They (=Chechens) said $ 2 millions, but these ones (=Uzbek authorities) said $600 thousand; in general, towards the end they came to a &1 million, and this money will be preserved in my own account, and they will commit this action."

TV journalist:

"I'm sorry, was the account personally your own, should they transfer money your name here in Moscow?"

B. Muminakhunov: "This was not necessary, in Moscow, in (Arab) Emirates; the main point was the guarantee that our side, I mean the Uzbek side, would pay this amount of money."

TV journalist:

"Do you think that here is an interest, direct command of the president of Uzbekistan?"

B. Muminakhunov: "Of course, I do, because neither the minister of MVD (Ministry of Home affairs), nor the head of the National Security Service cannot take the initiative by themselves in this case. Of course, this is an order, because they have no right to go to him with such an offer. They are not in a position to settle such problems."

TV journalist:

"So, the order was accepted. At last Muminakhunov has understood where he was carried away; he was frightened and did not know whom to address, to ask help. Russian Security Service is not familiar to him. However, he did not know Salih personally too. At that time he decided to tell the customers that their order is fulfilled, i.e. Salih was killed. Thus, Muminakhunov wanted to drop out of the game. He was sure that for a while they will leave him in peace, and for the time being the customers examine, he will be able to hide himself somewhere abroad. He was not able to leave Russia. And he came to our editorial board to tell all this inconceivable story. By that time the Chechens, having received an order to eliminate Salih, part of the payment, and as a matter of fact, they threw away the customers - National Security Service of Uzbekistan and Uzbek Interpol. They get in touch with Salih and warn him about the danger.

TV journalist:

"As I know, you pretended to be missing, didn't you?"

M. Salih:

"These Chechens asked me that I should be missing for a short of time. Without this action it was impossible to unmask them. Nobody knew, everybody considered that I really disappeared.

TV journalist: "Why did you act in this way? Did you need any evidence?"

M. Salih:

"Yes, I did act in this way in order to get any evidence, proof, because I knew that to assassinate me is Karimov's oldest wish."

Michael Markelov.

M. Markelov: "I would have never believe that the Interpol of Uzbekistan is engaged in political assassination. It is beyond belief, but it is fact. Now you will hear two telephone conversations between Bahram Muminakhunov and the director of the Interpol of Uzbekistan Mahmud Hayitov. In the first case the conversation turned to money - to pay an order. In the second case the director of the Interpol demands Muminakhunov the proof that Salih is dead. In the telephone conversation director of the Interpol of Uzbekistan Mahmud Hayitov speaks about the document. Under the word 'document' he means 'corpse'. The corpse of the leader of the opposition Muhammad Salih."

B. Muminakhunov is tackling through phone.

B. Muminakhunov: "They worry about the money. They say that it should be near 350 ..." Hayitov's voice through the phone:

"Well..."

Muminakhunov: "... it should be cash ... hello?"

Hayitov's voice: " in Moscow, yes?"

Muminakhunov:

"Yes, in Moscow ... the rest to the account.."

Hayitov:

"Good, no problem. You calm them, now I go to the boss, at five o'clock ... at that time I will ... him... Everything is done, have you found (him), haven't you? ... it means ... Is it possible to put 500 into their hands?.."

Muminakhunov:

" $500 is into their hands".

Hayitov: "Yes, well, in principle, there is no difference for us..."

Muminakhunov:

"Well, I understood..."

Hayitov:

"Was the document found?"

Muminakhunov:

"Yes!."

Hayitov:

"It's good, the main thing is that (it) was found..."

Episode of another telephone call between Muminakhunov and Hayitov.

Hayitov's voice through phone:

"When I speak about the document I mean a man, you understand it, don't you?" Muminakhunov:

"I understand, yes..."

Hayitov:

"I don't say that any kind document should be sent to us... when they go to that place... find... competent organs turn up for this job, turn up for this job, it's correct..."

Muminakhunov:

"Well..."

Hayitov:

"Competent (organs) ... Identify (him)... There is police there, here is

militia...

Muminakhunov:

"Well..."

Hayitov:

"They will examine ... he... the document won't lie for ever somewhere, is it true? They will give it... they will give it (=corpse) to its owners ... in order its owners ... bury him in the safe..." Shots: militiamen and militia motor-cyclists (from Karimov's cortege), which are stand in front of the Hotel Radisson in Moscow. Then in the shots: luxurious foyer ad corridors of the hotel.

Voice of the TV journalist: "At our disposal the exact dates and names of the personal from the National Security Service and Interpol of Uzbekistan who flew to Moscow on the eve of president Karimov's official visit. All these so called agents stayed at the hotel Radisson-Slavyanskaya, which is close to the Kievsk railway station of Moscow. Here they met with an involuntary witness Bahram Muminakhunov and discussed with him the problem how to give the Chechens money for an order. They failed to conclude a bargain, because Muminakhunov has no proof that Salih is dead. Although, it was stated by Uzbek-Interpol workers, information about the assassination of the leader of the opposition was given to the top, president Karimov. Guys were just a little in a hurry..."

Muhammad Salih: "From the very beginning Islam Karimov was informed about all activities. That's to say, it was an attempt upon somebody's life, an action on the government level. It was very serious. It means that all authorities - from the top authority till the head of the (Uzbek) Interpol - all of them were involved in this game."

TV journalist: "Why did the Chechens come to you and roughly speaking, they created this situation? Why didn't they fulfill the order?"

M. Salih:

"Number one, these young men, i.e. that man who had called and informed, knew me very well. When I had visited Moscow in 1998, he was one of my body-guards."

TV journalist:

"It means that those men who had guarded you, were offered to assassinate you?"

M. Salih: "It was an accident.

"Michael Markelov: "I won't touch the theme here whether Salih is good or bad, is he Islamist or secular poet-intellectual, who decided to devote himself to the struggle for the power in Uzbekistan. Here the point is that the Security Service (of Uzbekistan) took an active part in preparing a political assassination. Several years ago in Byelorussia president Alexander Lukashenko told me a very didactic story. For four years this tape was preserved in our archive. We had our doubts that such an event could really happen. Now there is no doubt about that."

President of Byelorussia Alexander Lukashenko conversing with M. Markelov President of Byelorussia Alexander Lukashenko says:

"Karimov told me that some kind of journalist who worked there, had criticized him. I don't remember whether he was local or Moscow (journalist)... Well, he once criticized him; I don't know whether he was there... He (=Karimov) says: "We caught him in Moscow, and sent to Tashkent... and that's it..." (This secret video-tape was done in 1997, i.e. a year later when Moscow journalist Sergey Grebenyuk was killed in Tashkent (he was killed in 1996)."

On the shots: Tashkent streets. Voice of the journalist:

"When Salih was announced to be alive, in Uzbekistan there began some changes in positions of the key personnel. We know for certain that who suffered first was one of the organizers of the special operation of Salih's elimination, director (now former) of the Interpol Mahmud Hayitov. On May 10th he was fired from his job. We called Interpol of Uzbekistan, and we were told that they do not know such a person with such a name in this organization, i.e. no man is a problem. The former director of Interpol of Uzbekistan have disappeared, nobody knows his whereabouts. If this will be continued, in this case we can give our version concerning future changes in the positions of the key personnel in Uzbekistan. Most likely, for the failed operation, for international scandal because of this, the following officials will be punished: Director of the National Security Service of Uzbekistan, Head of the Unti-terror Department and Minister of Home affairs. We cannot finish this story here, because no one of the authorities of Uzbekistan did agree to take part in our program. We always are ready to let persons concerned in this ugly story have the floor. We will continue our investigation. We will watch the situation around the leader of the opposition Muhammad Salih in Uzbekistan intently. Michael Markelov was with you. Good-bye, till Sunday!"

Karimov’s attempts to get rid of Salih have had a long history. Before the 1991 presidential election he sent envoys to Salih asking him not to be a candidate. Yet, Salih refused to obey the demand and consequently received 12.7% of the votes in the elections in which corruption was evident. Soon after the elections, the first thing Kerimov needed to do was to eliminate his opposition, or precisely, his rival in the elections, because he knew that had the elections been democratic and fair, the opposition would have received the majority of the votes and won the elections. So, Kerimov, as the very first step, aimed at depriving the university youth of any political acts, as they were the dynamos of the ERK party. 18 days after the 1992 elections, there was a student strike in Tashkent . Two students were killed by the gunfire of the regime and tens of others were wounded. This was the first act carried out by the Kerimov regime. In order to intimidate the people of Uzbekistan, who had supported Salih in the elections and to weary them against his politics. The public reaction to the suppression was not so massive, which encouraged Kerimov to act even more freely.

Publication of ERK newspaper was soon banned in three regions in Uzbekistan and some of the ERK members were convicted with the criminal charges. However, these precautions were far from weakening the opposition; in March 1992 ERK assembled all opposition groups of the country and formed a union under the name of Uzbek Forum of Democratic Forces.

Panicked, the government now had to change its tactics. President Karimov offered Salih any position he wanted in the present government but Salih rejected the offer. Salih’s wish was to cooperate for the benefit of their homeland and that the rights of the opposition be recognized. Uzbek government then decided to remove Salih completely from the parliament firstly. During the parliamentary session on July 2, 1992, Salih was denied the right of speech. Refusing to put up with such an attitude and standing up against the monopoly of the government; Salih resigned from the parliament.

During 1992-1993 Salih and his family were under strict surveillance. He was called for an open interrogation in accordance with the "National Assembly" file. Meanwhile, publication of the ERK newspaper was stopped. The newspaper editor Ibrahim Hakkul was sued with the alleged charges. Professor Atanazar Arif, the party secretary, was imprisoned. So was Unionist Hazratkul Hudayberdi. In spring 1993, Salih was under arrest. Salih was released after three days with the constant pressure from the international community. Salih soon after left Uzbekistan. on 25th September 1993, ERK party congress was held on 25th of September and decided to keep the party whatever it took. The anti-opposition campaign by the Uzbek government led by Karimov has been going on for seven years now. Luydmila Alekseyeva, the chairperson of the Helsinki Committee compares it to the campaigns against Sakharov and Soljenitsin in Russia.

Chronology of 'liberation struggle'

In late 1993 and early 1994, ERK party publications were circulated through out the country. Karimov requested the extradition of Muhammed Salih to Uzbekistan from President Demirel of Turkey at the Leaders Summit in Davos, Switzerland in January 1994. Upon Demirel's question "Why do you need him?" Kerimov simply replied: "I am going to kill him". In June 1994, some of ERK newspaper officials, led by former deputy Murad Corayev, was arrested upon Karimov’s return from Turkey. Six of the groups were sentenced to penal servitude with charge of "an attempt to demolish the state". While the judgement was in progress, Muhammed Salih was again regarded as one of the top criminals and was declared 'a state criminal'. However, ERK carried on with the propaganda. In 1995, another group was arrested upon their return from Turkey. The members of the group were made to confess on TV show that "Salih prepared Uzbek youngsters in Istanbul in order to demolish the Uzbek state". From 1995 on, the government newspapers began to explicitly mention Salih as a "traitor". In late June 1994, Kerimov paid a visit to Turkey. Among political and economic issues, the "opposition problem" was once again on top of the agenda. For the first time, the Turkish media informed the public of the Uzbek opposition. Engin Ardıç of STAR TV criticized harshly the Turkish government for condoning such dictators as Karimov. But, it was obvious that the Turkish media was far from impressing the government's policy as President Demirel ordered the state officials to "get Muhammed Salih out of the country without offending him". And Salih left Turkey for Germany "with no feelings of offence at all." Karimov was incapable of daring to ask Germany extradition of Salih. However, he did not hesitate to say "the German-Uzbek friendship is eternal. My grandfather Amir Temur had saved Europe from the Turkish invasion" in his speech he made at the German Parliament. Government changed in Turkey in 1995 and it did nothing to prevent Salih from returning to Turkey. Yet, Salih , fearing not to deteriorate the Turkish-Uzbek relations, refrained from performing any political activities. He lived illegally in Istanbul until 1997. Before making his visit to Turkey in November, Karimov warned the new Turkish government in an impolite and non-diplomatic language against his presence in Turkey. Turkish Foreign Ministry had to deport Salih for the second time. This exile did not last too long; he soon returned to Turkey secretly. Karimov accused the Turkish state again of helping the opposition leader of the Uzbek regime. Salih had to leave Turkey this time.

Turkish scholar Şuayip Karakaş, who translated Muhammed Salih's works into Turkish, states: "Muhammed Salih is a person who trained himself in the notorious Socialist Soviet conditions, visited Turkey, saw Europe and USA and studied the Islamic world. He is a man of strong intellect and leader meditating and producing ideas not only on Uzbekistan's but also on entire Turkestan's and the Turkic world's future. He is the only leader to produce a project named "Turkic Belt". Therefore, he is the second great philosopher after Ziya Gökalp, who owns the programme that rests on a firm basis concerning the world Turk-hood. Muhammed Salih, above all, seeks to rid his homeland, Uzbekistan, of feudalism, a disgraceful form of government in today's world. He is legend, whose name is forbidden to be pronounced even in his own country. He is young and healthy, with sound mental and physical capabilities. He has no such bad habits as smoking, alcohol drinking or gambling. He is a genuine leader with firm patience, responsibility and strong will, qualities that will never disappoint those trusting him. Although Islam Karimov offered him Prime Ministry of Uzbekistan, which he rejected, in return of giving up opposition against him, Salih has never given up his ideals of freedom, patriotism, justice and democracy."

Blasts in February 1999

This was the most loathsome provocation within the program made to "defeat the adversary". It was evident that the blasts were an excuse to be used against the opposition. Even before Salih was officially declared guilty, his brothers Abdureshid Begcan and Kamil Begcan were arrested. Surprisingly, the week before the blasts occurred, all Salih's relatives had been taken under constant surveillance by KGB. This means on the day blasts took place, those determined guilty by KGB had already been taken under custody. The criminals were determined with attached charges, and the case was even documented. The only thing that remained to be done was the judgement. Before the judgement, lengthy articles were published to accuse Salih of committing the murders. In the meetings, in streets, schools and factories people told the public what a blood- thirsty murderer Salih was. In schools children were made to draw pictures illustrating the extradition of Salih too the fair justice by the magnificent Uzbek police. Compositions were written, too. Salih was accused by fake witnesses, whom he had never seen. Eventually, Salih was found guilty as the organizer of all those blasts.

Alparslan Turkeş in July 18,1996, wishing to secure reconciliation between Salih and Karimov, wrote a letter to Karimov. Salih approved this initiative with some changes in the context of the letter. The amended letter was sent to Kerimov on August 4, 1996 through the Uzbek embassy. The letter can be summarized as follows: "Chairman of the Uzbek ERK party, his highness Muhammed Salih, has been abroad for a few years. I have met him three times in Turkey and Europe. First of all, I do not know what the occurrences are between your highness and Muhammed Salih. However, he always uses a respectful language when mentioning you. Great persons have great spirits. They forgive the faults committed to them. You will, no doubt, appreciate the significance of unity and togetherness for the Uzbek nation. I request your highness to grant a friendly hand to Mr. Salih. I hereby submit you a letter, in attachment, that he wrote to your highness. I look forward to your generous reply. I sent to your highness my deepest respects and greetings."

Karimov replied to Turkes letter three and half month later. "We have gone through very hard phase in our very-short-time-independence. There have been some men who fought for the same purpose we chose, some others did not trust us, and still others made mistakes; however, we have never seen them as enemies of our nation. Once they realize their mistakes, no one will be capable of preventing them working for the future of Uzbekistan. As for Muhammed Salih, he might as well follow the same route as the others, we reckon setting preconditions is not right to do this. Everything should be realized regardless of conditions and with no deals concerning obtaining high positions in the state. Mr. Alparslan Turkeş, you too know very well that everything should take place in accordance with the Uzbek Law of Constitution and regulations". It is understood from these remarks, under signed by him, Karimov thought about nothing but defeating his political opponent.

The Prague Story

On November 28, 2001, Muhammed Salih was taken under arrest while going through passport control at Prague Airport. He had joined International Crisis group meeting in Brussels and delivered a briefing at the European Parliament's Central Asian Commission on Uzbekistan. The next day he had arrived in Prague by an Amsterdam-Prague plane, having been invited by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Uzbek State TV was immediately on the streets in Tashkent asking people: "What penalty do you consider for traitors?" President Karimov must have wished Czechs would not take long to send his opponent to Tashkent. But the human rights organizations raised protesting voice. If the operation resulted in success, it would not be necessary to spend millions of dollars to exterminate Salih. In 2001, Karimov had hired a group of Chechens to kill Salih, and the money had been provide by one of Karimov's collaborators, a mafia leader. Only by chance, Salih had had a narrow escape. But now Salih himself had walked into the trap. The Czech police announced that Salih had been sought by the Uzbek state and would be extradited to Uzbekistan to a mutual agreement. Therefore, Salih's life was now in real jeopardy. Muhammed Salih later reports the situation with a bit of humor: "I too caught glimpse of my name appearing in red background on the computer at the passport control at Ruzine Airport of Prague and thought that was the end. I ask myself "why on earth did I never think I could be arrested here in Czech Republic?" Somewhere deep in my mind I had an idea that the land of Czechs is a European state and so Uzbekistan may have no word on them to get me arrested. Not only did I bear in mind such a worry, but the ones at home, even Mehmet Tütüncü, who had driven me to Amsterdam Airport, had no idea such a thing could happen to me."

I came to realize some of the things when I talked to Salih's lawyer, Ms. Kohoutova. I assume, the officers of the Czech Interpol, who had arrested Salih, had no idea that their country had signed the 1951 Geneva Convention, as regards political immigrants status, and they had no right to arrest him. The reason was that Salih had a passport, given to him by the Norwegian state, which was approved by the UN according to this agreement. The Czech police, who managed to realize this nuance only after a while, were unable to make any announcement during the following 3 days. And, 3 days later, they announced that "Salih could only move freely within the Schengen states with this passport". In the end, they had to prove they were not mistaken and therefore stated that they had to arrest Salih in accordance with an international agreement made with Interpol. Of course, all these happened well after the arrest was echoed throughout the world. Muhammed Salih speaks of the day he was arrested: "The police officer who told me 'you are under arrest!' asked me all of a sudden, while filling in the forms, 'where is Uzbekistan now; is it an independent state or within the Russian Federation?'. I thought people with such knowledge would no doubt send you to Uzbekistan. Yet, I did not utter a word for it seemed useless to do so as I was a 'terrorist' for them. The same officer said 'this lady will be your lawyer' pointing to an acquaintance to his. I said 'OK'. There was no other way; only in this way could I communicate with the outside world through this lawyer".

 The first message that lawyer Kohoutova conveyed was a bit frightening: "If Uzbekistan does not send us the files of charged within 40 days, Salih will be let free; otherwise, they will be examined and he will be extradited to Uzbekistan. Such cases do not take long to settle with us". Uzbekistan would take no longer than 4 days to send the files. And, so it happened. Tashkent sent the files 2 days later. Czech Interior Ministry officials were stunned by pressure imposed by the Uzbek side. It is certain that they thought Muhammed Salih was a lot more than a "common terrorist".

(re-write) The news caused a huge wave of ecstasy in Tashkent. Uzbekistan TV channels began interviewing the so-called Uzbek public and emphasized traitors should be penalized in the most suitable way they deserved. On website www.uzbekistanerk.org the case was mentioned in detail. Of course, Karimov's rival, whom he had been chasing for years but failed to capture, was by great coincidence trapped now and would most probably be handed in to him in a cage. On December 3, 2001 Karimov told the media that they expected his adversary, Muhammed Salih, to be extradited and mentioned Salih as leader of the Uzbek Islamic Movement. No one raised a voice against this; journalists were now used to hearing such silly remarks from Karimov. One of those days I received a phone call; it was the voice of someone who was disturbed by the activities of Turkistan Newsletter, a journal I used to manage. In fact, I knew the owner of the voice. He was once a supporter of Salih, and managed his own dealing, pretending to be pro-democracy in Turkistan. But, Karimov’s wealth dazzled him and now he is making a living by spying Salih for Karimov. On the phone, he told me USA had long ago presented Salih to Karimov and, therefore, his Newsletter struggled in vain. I replied him in due manner. The Prague incident, interestingly, revealed not only personal but also political manipulation over Uzbekistan. We know today that, at first, some states ignored the Salih issue and advised their institutions not to exaggerate it. Until 3 September, a period during which Salih’s fate was vague in Prague Pancrac prison, none of the embassies except that of Norway- paid any attention to him. However, after the case was made a matter of interest by the mass media, the situation reversed.

Media all over the world reacted in different ways. The US media began messaging that Salih was a fighter of democracy and one of the most serious opponents of the Karimov regime. The Russian media, not surprisingly, displayed a pro-Karimov position and went on publishing misleading news about Muhammed Salih. The German media mentioned the case, even if not in detail. One of the newspapers, however, published a letter in full that Salih had written while in jail. The Anatolian News Agency, the Turkish state’s official news agency, only reflected the Uzbek regime’s views, short and illegitimate. Nonetheless, journalists like Taha Akyol, Cengiz Çandar, Altemur Kılıc, Ahmet Arslan and Rahim Er gave full support to Uzbek democracy. I, hereby, would like to thank them for their sincere effort. We would also like to emphasize the utter support extended by Radio Free Europe, who invited Salih to Prague. This is the radio by which we were informed of the incident hour by hour.

To those who know what the Uzbek regime is like, Salih’s extradition would mean nothing but his death. In the same evening that Salih was arrested, the highly urgent declarations of the Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch warned the world about the critical situation that had emerged. Pen Club, whose headquarters is in London, and the Moscow writers took an immediate action. International Group and the chairman of European Parliamentary Commission, Bart States, made a press release, demanding Salih to be freed. The western media began making elaborate comments on the issue.

Salih as a democrat

Aften Posten, Norway’s leading daily, read on full page: Salih was the best-known politician in his homeland, and he still is today. In order to degrade his popularity, Karimov has been exerting efforts to label him ˜Islamist." Karimov ordered physical extermination of his opponent, Salih. (Uzbekisk opposisjoner arrestet i Tsjekkia, Aften Posten, 30.11.01).

RFE/RL's political commentator Bruce Pannier says: "Salih is still the chairman of the banned Erk Democratic Party. Though he lost in his presidential bid against Karimov in 1991. Salih still gathered some 12 percent of the vote - a remarkable feat for an opponent in an election that many regarded as rigged. " (RFE\RL,4.12.01).

Professor Mark N.Katz of George Mason University writes:

"I met with Salih in October 1992, when he was still in Tashkent. He is no Islamic fundamentalist, but a democrat. Salih described to me how Karimov sought to discredit the democratic opposition in the West by portraying it as Islamic fundamentalist. He hoped the West would not be fooled, but feared it would be. He predicted that while Karimov could quickly eliminate his democratic opponents, he would not be able to get rid of his Islamic fundamentalist ones so easily. With the democratic opposition gone, the Islamic fundamentalist opposition would just get stronger. This prediction has come true. (The Moscow Times, Russia\CIS\Eastern Europe,3.12.01)

Peter Green, New York Times' commentator in Prague, starts his article titled '' Voice of Prague Prison- The Uzbek Poet'': "In a whitewashed cell in the Pankrac prison here, the man generally recognized as one of his nation's greatest poets sits behind a scarred formic table, wearing the prison uniform of faded purple sweat-suit and slip-on shoes. High up, a slit of wet sky is visible through the bars of a small window. His crime: to challenge the one- party rule of a once-Communist country, Uzbekistan. His fate: to sit in the same jail where the writer Vaclav Havel was once detained by the Communist police, a political prisoner in the country Mr. Havel now rules. (New York Times, 9.12.01)

Los Angeles Times' (7.12.01) columnist Robyn Dixson evaluates the events: "Karimov's move to extend his rule comes as authorities here seek the extradition from the Czech Republic of Mukhammed Salih, the last strong opposition figure to challenge Karimov in an election. Salih ran against the president a decade ago".

Head of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Thomas Dine, in his open letter written to the prosecutor of the Prague city articulates: "We know Mr. Salih to be a fair, honest, and brave person promoting human rights and democratic institutions and processes in his homeland. (RFE\RL, 05.12.01)

Persistence of the Norwegian Government

Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Petersen today asked his Czech counterpart, Jan Kavan, that the Czech Republic extradites detained Uzbek dissident Muhammed Salih back to Norway. Meanwhile, TV channels in Norway had been broadcasting programs about Muhammed Salih's being a true democrat. However, Czech authorities called him to the ordeal on November 30, 2001 and prolonged his custody to 40 days. Upon this development, Norwegian government, which expected Solih's immediate release by the Prague City, sharpened its attitude giving the Czech Foreign Ministry a diplomatic note.

Norway tried hard and seemed to be certain that Salih would be freed before 40-day detention period. It assumed that the Czech Republic, which is one of the closest candidates to the EU entry, cannot risk the support of a country such as Norway, which is highly influential in European political affairs. Yet, the Czechs had been quite stubborn and did not release Salih despite of Norway's diplomatic note. At those days, the Norwegian ambassador to Prague visited Muhammed Salih at the Pancras prison and comforted him. During a long conversation, the ambassador told Muhammed Salih that his country had been seeking to get him out of the prison before the trial. Thanking the ambassador for all his efforts, Salih insisted that the 'trial' was necessary. He also declared that he would oppose to any decision of cancellation of the 'trial' and stay in the prison until the day of ordeal. Shocked with this reply, the Norwegian ambassador asked Muhammed Salih "why?" Muhammed Salih answered: "This is a golden opportunity to prove that all the accusations of Karimov against me are void. I will stay in this prison as long as it takes until the truth is proven." A summary of this conversation was immediately broadcasted by Radio Liberty.

Consequently, his arrest stirred strong controversy in the world public opinion increasing every hour and reaching to the residence of the Czech President by numerous Internet mails, phone calls, fax messages and protesting letters. President Vaclav Havel, himself a writer who spent five years in Communist jails for advocating democracy, was said by his spokesman to be taking a strong interest in the case. Havel spoke about Salih's detention at the Czech television and said that "I've been intensively dealing with the affair and I am certain that Salih is innocent. I have taken steps and I will take further steps within my powers to release him."

In those days, an anonymous person called saying that The US had already given Salih to Karimov as a present and Turkistan Newsletter's efforts would fail. Meanwhile, Uzbek TV channels were heralding "capture of the people's enemy" and his "near ordeal to bring to justice".

Some even commented that as a result of cooperation between the US and Uzbekistan on the war against terrorism, Salih will be extradited to Uzbekistan. This issue was asked to Muhammed Salih by journalists during the press conference after his release. Salih answered calmly the questions about whether the US bargained on his detention in Prague: "I don't think a super power such as the US would deal with such trivial issues!" Thus, Salih defended both the Czech government as well as the Super Power.

On 11 December 2001 at 11 am, the Czech court has decided that Uzbek opposition leader Muhammed Salih should be released from extradition custody on President Vaclav Havel's guarantee. Czech politicians commented that Solih's case had set a precedent for the Czech legal system.

Within 3 hours after leaving the Pancras prison, Salih gave a press conference and met with around 80 journalists from all over the world.

On President Vaclav Havel's request, Muhammed Salih met with him at the Prajski Palace on 12 December at 5.30 pm. During this meeting, Salih informed the President about the political situation in Uzbekistan and gave him the essay that he wrote in prison as a present.

After their meeting, Salih told the journalists that Czech President promised to support Uzbek democrats in international arena.

Thus, the Prague city court trial of 14th of December, had been an ordeal of Uzbekistan's repressive regime rather than Muhammed Salih's. In the court's decision, there were passages that would prove Uzbek government's terrorist activities.

Judge Veronika Bohackova said that the Czech Republic was bound by international conventions, which ban extraditing people to territories where they would be faced with serious human rights and freedoms violation. "We had enough groundwork not to comply with the demand by Uzbek authorities for extradition of Mr. Salih," she said.

Though the Prague incident has been quite dramatic for Muhammed Salih, it has also been a very good experience for him to inform the world about undemocratic developments and human rights violations in Uzbekistan as well as his struggle. In his own words: "I hope that my experience in Prague has in a way cast light on the human rights situation in Uzbekistan," Salih said.

Nevertheless, though the Prague trial is over, Muhammed Solih's adventure carries on. The dictator is and will be after him. While Kerimov is in power in Uzbekistan, life of Muhammed Salih remains under treat. Why Karimov has been following Muhammed Salih for 9 years? Galima Buharbaeva, researcher at the Institute of as a present War and Peace, Department of Central Asia, answers this question:

"There is no mystery behind Tashkent's determination to see Salih behind bars. In spite of the fact that he has been out of the country for eight years, he remains a symbol of the secular opposition to Karimov's autocratic style of government and is still a potential rival."

(IWPR'S REPORTING CENTRAL ASIA, No. 89 Institute for War & Peace Reporting info@iwpr.net

Czech Arrest, 1st Ld-Writethruc ozbek opposition
leader arrested in Prague

29.11.2001

Associated Press, Ankara

Karel JANICEK

PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AP) - Acting on an international warrantr police have tamed an Uzbek opposition leader who came to Prague on invitation of Radio Free Erope/Radio Liberty, his lawyer said Thursday.

Miroslava Kohoutova said that Mukhamrnat Salih was ordered held on arrival ednesday at Pragues Ruzyne airport on the 1993 warrant, issued on request of uzbekistan, and that a court was to rule on his extradition to his home country ater Thursday or on Friday.

Police spokeswoman Eva Srozova confirmed Salikh was detained Wednesday. She aid he was being held in a police cell but offered no further details.

Salikh, head of the opposition Erk Party, was sentenced in absentia last yeaf o 15 1/2 years in prison for alleged involvement in a bombing that killed 16 peop(in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent, in 1999.

He is currently living in Norway where he was granted political asylum after uthorities ruled that he was in danger of persecution in his home country. ohoutova said Norwegian authorities had already turned down an extradition reques from  Uzbekistan.

Uzbek President Islam Karimov has received Western praise for opening his irspace and a key air base to U.S. aircraft to help America pursue its campaign in neighboring Afghanistan.

But Uzbekistants human rights record has been under criticism, with Western ouritries complaining that the governments broad crackdown against Islamic ctivists is so sweeping that moderate opponents of the regime may be turning to adicalism.

New York-based Human Rights Watch has accused authorities of torturing 15 eople in custody to death during the past three years. Diplomats based in Uzbekistan estimate that 5, 000 to 10,000 Uzbeks are in jail for crimes related to political activities.

In a telephone call to the Ankara office of The Associated Press, his daughter, Umida Salikh, said the family fears for his life if he is returned to Uzbekistan.

If he is extradited he will be killed, we have no doubt about that, she said.

Brozova said that Salikh is wanted for in connection with several serious criminal offenses in Uzbekistari, but refused to elaborate. Kohoutova too refused  to go into details, citing rules of privacy.

RFE spokeswoman Sonia Winter confirmed the station had invited Salikh, but said that to firm date had been set for his visit.

His arrival was a surprise for us, ~ Winter said.

She said the radio was in frequent contact with Salikh, describing him as a human rights advocate.

We interviewed him several times on our programs as a person who has been persecuted and a person who spoke out against violation of human rights in Uzbekistan,  Winter said.

Czech Republic/Uzbekistan:
Fear of forcible deportation/fear of
torture, Muhammad SALIH

29.11.2001

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, UA 305/01 Fear of forcible deportation-fear of torture 29 November 2001. CZECH REPUBLIC-UZBEKISTAN Muhammad SALIH, aged 52

Exiled Uzbek opposition leader Muhammad Salih was arrested by Czech police when he arrived at Prague airport on 28 November, reportedly at the request of the Uzbek authorities. He may now be forcibly returned to Uzbekistan, where he would be at grave risk of torture. Muhammad Salih has had refugee status in Norway since 1999, and the Czech authorities should allow him to return to Norway, for the Norwegian authorities to decide on any request for extradition.

Muhammad Salih is the leader of the banned Erk Democratic Party of Uzbekistan. He had travelled to Prague at the invitation of the Uzbek Service of Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe. He was detained at passport control at 10am, and the police reportedly did not allow him to use a telephone until 7pm. He called his son and told him that he had been detained at the request of Uzbekistan. A court hearing will take place on 30 November to decide on possible deportation to Uzbekistan.

The Czech Republic is a state party to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (the Refugee Convention) and the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Both of these prohibit the return of a person to a country or territory where they may face serious human rights violations. There are similar provisions in the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

In February 1999 16 people died in bomb explosions in the centre of the Uzbek capital, Tashkent. The Uzbek authorities have used the bomb explosions and other violent incidents to justify a clampdown on individuals and groups they perceive as a threat to their authority and the country's stability.

President Karimov blamed Muhammad Salih for the bombings, and state-owned newspapers, radio and TV stations described him as a traitor, a murderer and a terrorist. The Uzbek authorities have accused him of being one of the leaders of an international conspiracy aiming to overthrow the government. In November 2000 the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan sentenced Muhammad Salih in absentia to 15 and a half years' imprisonment on charges of terrorism and treason in connection with the bombings. Muhammad Salih has always denied the charges and has insisted that they were fabricated by the authorities to punish him for his non-violent opposition activities.

Hundreds of people] have reportedly been arrested during the clampdown that followed the explosions, and allegedly ill-treated and tortured. They range from members and suspected supporters of the banned secular political opposition parties and movements Erk and Birlik, to alleged supporters of banned Islamic opposition movements or parties, such as Hizb-ut-Tahrir, and their relatives, as well as independent human rights monitors. Thousands of devout Muslims and dozens of members or supporters of Erk and Birlik are now serving long prison sentences, convicted after unfair trials of membership of an illegal party, distribution of illegal religious literature and anti-state activities.

Muhammad Salih founded Erk in 1990; it was officially registered as Uzbekistan's first opposition political party the following year, and Salih ran for president. Following a clampdown against government opponents Erk was effectively banned in 1993, and Muhammad Salih went into exile soon afterwards.

Amnesty International is particularly concerned that Uzbekistan may use the "international fight against terrorism" as an opportunity to further clamp down on the country's internal opposition, with greater impunity than ever before. Uzbekistan, which borders Afghanistan, is one of the main allies of the US-led coalition in the region. At least 1,000 US ground troops are based at the Khanabad military base in the south of the country.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Czech, English or your own language:

-- urging the Czech authorities not to forcibly return Muhammad Salih to Uzbekistan, where he would be in grave danger of torture and cruel and inhuman treatment;

-- reminding the authorities that the Czech Republic is a party to the UN Refugee Convention; the United Nations Convention against Torture, and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms;

-- reminding the Czech government that Muhammad Salih has been recognized as a refugee in Norway and that he should be returned to Norway for the Norwegian authorities to deal with the extradition request.

Update:

Further information on UA 305/01 (EUR 71/004/2001, 29 November 2001).

Exiled Uzbek opposition leader Muhammad Salih was remanded in custody for 40 days by Prague City Court today, while the extradition request from Uzbekistan is being examined.

FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please continue appeals as before, in Czech, English or your own language:

-- urging the Czech authorities not to forcibly return Muhammad Salih to Uzbekistan, where he would be in grave danger of torture and cruel and inhuman treatment;

-- reminding the authorities that the Czech Republic is a party to the UN Refugee Convention; the United Nations Convention against Torture, and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms;

-- reminding them that Muhammad Salih has been recognized as a refugee in Norway and that he should be released and returned to Norway for the Norwegian authorities to deal with the extradition request.

APPEALS TO:

President Václav Havel

President of the Czech Republic

Prazsky Hrad, Praha 1, 11908

CZECH REPUBLIC

THE POET MUHAMMAD SALIH, CHAIRMAN OF ERK,
THE OPPOSITION DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF UZBEKISTAN,

HAS BEEN DETAINED IN PRAGUE

29.11.2001

Vitaly Ponomarev

Memorial Human Rights Centre, Moscow

Czech Republic/Uzbekistan - The foreign press service of Erk, the Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, reports that the party's leader, the poet Salay Madaminov (better known by his nom-de-plume, Muhammad Salih), was detained in Prague at about 1000 on 28th November 2001. His detention only became publicly known at about 1900, when Czech police allowed the Uzbek dissident to contact his son by telephone. Salih said that he had been detained at the request of Uzbekistan and that the question of whether he would be extradited would be decided at a court hearing which would be held in three days' time.

Sources in Prague today confirmed that Muhammad Salih had been detained after he arrived in the Czech republic from the Netherlands at the invitation of the Uzbek Service of Radio Liberty. It is reported that Salih was detained at passport control as a person wanted by Interpol.

Fifty-two year old Muhammad Salih is one of the central figures in the Uzbek political opposition. In 1991 he was the only rival candidate standing in a presidential election against the present head of state, Islam Karimov. As a result of persecution by the security services, Salih was forced to emigrate in 1994. In the years since then he has continued to be politically active abroad.

The Uzbek authorities have previously accused Salih of preparing a coup d'etat, of having links to Islamic insurgent groups based in Afghanistan, and of complicity in the acts of terrorism which took place in Tashkent on 16th February 2000. On 17th November 2000 the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan found him guilty (in absentia) under thirteen articles of the Criminal Code, and sentenced him to fifteen and a half years' imprisonment, to be served in a harsh-regime prison camp. Salih himself denies all these accusations.

Human rights organisations consider that criminal cases arising out of investigations into cases of terrorism in Uzbekistan are in the main fabricated. Despite this, more than 7,000 people have been given court sentences for anti-state activity in Uzbekistan in the last three years alone. Confessions, which form the basis for prosecution, are frequently obtained through horrific torture. If Salih is extradited to his home country, it is impossible to count on him having a fair trial. Three of his brothers are already in prison on various trumped-up charges.

The Memorial Human Rights Centre calls on the Czech authorities to release Salih from detention immediately, and to turn down Uzbekistan's request for his extradition.

Uzbek Militant Detained in Prague

29.11.2001

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 1:43 p.m. ET

PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AP) -- Acting on an international warrant, police have detained an Uzbek opposition leader who came to Prague at the invitation of Radio Free Europe, his lawyer said Thursday.

Mukhammat Salikh was held shortly after arriving in the Czech capital on Wednesday, according to his lawyer, Miroslava Kohoutova, who said a court would rule on extradition by the end of the week.

Police spokeswoman Eva Brozova confirmed Salikh was being held in a police cell but offered no further details.

Brozova said Salikh is wanted by the Uzbeks in connection with several serious criminal offenses there, but refused to elaborate. Uzbekistan accuses him of being an Islamic militant.

Salikh, head of the opposition Erk Party, which means Freedom, was sentenced in absentia last year to 15 1/2 years in prison for alleged involvement in a bombing that killed 16 people in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent in 1999.

He currently lives in Norway where he was granted political asylum after authorities ruled that he risked persecution if returned to his home country. Kohoutova said Norwegian authorities had already turned down an extradition request from Uzbekistan.

Uzbek President Islam Karimov has received Western praise for opening his airspace and a key air base to U.S. aircraft for the war in Afghanistan.

But Uzbekistan's human rights record has been under criticism with Western countries complaining that the government's broad crackdown against Islamic activists is so sweeping that moderate opponents of the regime may be turning to radicalism.

New York-based Human Rights Watch has accused authorities of torturing 15 people in custody to death during the past three years. Diplomats based in Uzbekistan estimate that 5,000 to 10,000 Uzbeks are in jail for crimes related to political activities.

Sonia Winter, a spokeswoman for Radio Free Europe, confirmed the station had invited Salikh, but said that no firm date had been set for his visit.

She said the radio was in frequent contact with Salikh, whom she described as a human rights advocate.

``We interviewed him several times on our programs as a person who has been persecuted and a person who spoke out against violation of human rights in Uzbekistan,'' Winter said.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is a private nonprofit corporation funded by the U.S. Congress and established in 1949 to spread uncensored news to Soviet- controlled countries and to promote democratic values and institutions.

Programs are transmitted in 27 languages to 25 countries, including Uzbekistan

---  from indymedia web posting ---

Salih was invited to Prague by the US  nongovernmental broadcasting bureau `Radio Liberty'. Now, he is at the  custodial  of  Interpol  in Prague. Muhammad Salih is going to be deported to Uzbekistan under the convoy. Organizations of Human Rights try  to  have  Muhammad Salih free. We please everybody struggling for the  democracy  in  the  world  to  cooperate in getting the leader of democratic  opposition  of  Uzbekistan  and  poet Muhammad Salih free. Phone    of    Muhammad    Salih's   attorney,   Murch   Koftova,   is 004202-22-721-424

Uzbek Opposition Leader Arrested in Prague

29.11.2001

Dear President Havel,

The International League for Human Rights, an international, non-governmental human rights organization with consultative status at the United Nations ECOSOC, is extremely concerned by the arrest of Muhammad Salih, leader of the banned Erk Democratic Party of Uzbekistan. Salih was arrested by Czech police upon his arrival at Prague airport on November 28, 2001, reportedly at the request of the Uzbek authorities. He had traveled to Prague at the invitation of the Uzbek Service of Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe. The trial which will decide whether or not to extradite Salih to Uzbekistan is said to begin within days.

After the Erk Party was registered in 1990, it became one of the leading political forces in Uzbekistan, leading to the decision of its leader, Muhammad Salih, to participate in the presidential elections in 1992. Mindful of the increasing political weight of the party, the Uzbek government banned Erk in 1993, forcing Salih into exile. In February 1999, following the bomb explosions in the center of Tashkent which killed 16 people, the Uzbek authorities unleashed a campaign to clamp down on various groups and individuals allegedly presenting a threat to the country’s stability. In November 2000, the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan sentenced Muhammad Salih in absentia to 15 and a half years’ imprisonment on charges of organizing the bombings. Since no conclusive evidence of his guilt was presented, it is highly likely that these charges were politically motivated and designed to discredit Salih as a political opponent in the eyes of the Uzbek people.

The League fears that Muhammad Salih faces a prospect of bodily harm or even death if extradited to Uzbekistan, the known violator of human rights and freedoms. We call upon you to abide by the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Punishment, to which your country is a party and which states that “No State Party shall expel, return or extradite a person to another State where there are substantial grounds for believing that he would be in danger of being subjected to torture,” and release Muhammad Salih to his country of residence, Norway, which has recognized him as a refugee.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. We await your response.

Sincerely,

Catherine Fitzpatrick

Executive Director

Uzbek Dissident Arrested
in Prague, Threatened with Extradition

29.11.2001

Human Rights Watch

(New York, November 29, 2001) - A prominent Uzbek dissident, Mohammed Solih, was arrested in Prague yesterday for a politically motivated conviction in Uzbekistan and faces extradition, Human Rights Watch said today. Solih had traveled to Prague on an invitation from U.S. Radio Free Europe.

Human Rights Watch today called on Czech authorities to refuse Uzbekistan's extradition request, release Solih immediately, and guarantee his security while in the Czech Republic.

"This is a matter of life and death for Mr. Solih," said Elizabeth Andersen, executive director of Human Rights Watch's Europe and Central Asia division. "The Czech government has got to act now to refuse the extradition request and release him."

Solih is chairman of the Erk Democratic Party, a political opposition group now banned in Uzbekistan. He was the only genuinely independent candidate to challenge Uzbek President Islam Karimov in the 1991 presidential elections. Following the elections, Uzbek authorities harassed and repeatedly detained him. Fearing arrest on dubious charges, he fled the country.

On November 28, Czech police detained Solih at passport control, on an Interpol extradition request placed by Uzbek authorities. He is currently in preliminary custody. Tomorrow the Prague City Court will hold a hearing to determine whether to go forward with extradition proceedings.

In November 2000, the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan sentenced Solih in absentia to a 15-year prison term on charges of terrorism and anti-state activities. Human Rights Watch monitored the trial, and found it reminiscent in all respects of Soviet-era show trials. No material evidence of Solih's guilt was presented. Nine of Solih's co-defendants also received lengthy terms in prison, and two other men, sentenced in absentia in the same trial, were sentenced to death. Uzbekistan continues to execute condemned prisoners. Human Rights Watch opposes the death penalty in all circumstances.

Three of Mr. Solih's brothers-Komil, Muhammad, and Rashid Bekjonov-are currently serving sentences ranging from 10 to 15 years on politically motivated charges, reflecting the Uzbek government's program to arrest relatives of those labeled "enemies of the people." According to a human rights activist who served time in prison along with Rashid and Muhammad Bekjonov, the brothers have been subjected to particularly harsh treatment, including repeated torture, by prison authorities.

Elizabeth Andersen

Executive Director, Europe and Central

Asia Division Human Rights Watch

Czech police arrest Uzbek
opposition leader wanted by Interpol

29.11.2001

PRAGUE, Nov 29 (CTK) - The Czech police arrested Salai Madaminov, also known as Muhammad Salih, the leader of Uzbekistan's main opposition democratic Party Erk, at Prague Ruzyne airport on Wednesday, police spokeswoman Iva Knolova told CTK today.

According to Knolova, Salih, who arrived in Prague on the invitation of the Radio Free Europe radio station, is wanted by Interpol.

Salih is currently being held in a police cell in Prague 6.

According to agency AP, Salih was sentenced in absentia last year to 15.5  years in prison for an alleged involvement in a bombing that killed 16 people in Tashkent in 1999.

Salih now lives in Norway where he gained a political asylum.

The RFE invited him to take part in a discussion programme on the situation in Uzbekistan.

RFE spokeswoman Sonia Winter said the radio was in frequent contact with Salikh, describing him as a human rights advocate.

"We interviewed him several times on our programmes as a person who has been persecuted and a person who spoke out against violation of human rights in Uzbekistan," AP quoted Winter as saying.   Winter nevertheless admitted that Salih's arrival in Prague was a surprise as the RFE had not set any firm date for his visit.

As soon as RFE learned about Salih's arrest, it contacted his family and the Norwegian Embassy, Winter said.

"We were told that it would be dealt with on the highest level and that the Norwegian Ambassador immediately charged himself with the task," Winter said.

The embassy secretary told CTK that the office would provide no information. He only said that the embassy did not know the reason for Salih's arrest. He nevertheless added that he believed that the Czech police were acting in harmony with law.

He added that the Norwegian ministry wanted to acquire all available information on the case and only after that it would consider developing some diplomatic activities.

Erk was established in 1990 as an opposition to Uzbek President Islam Karimov. It was banned in 1993.

Its founders originally were members of the opposition group Nationalist Islamic Movement Birlik, whose aim is, among other things, the promotion of Islam. In 1990 some of its members left the group as they wanted democratic reforms and established Erk.

UZBEK DISSIDENT ARRESTED
IN PRAGUE, FACES EXTRADITION TO UZBEKISTAN

30.11.2001, Eurasia Insight

Acting on a warrant issued by Interpol, authorities in the Czech Republic have detained one of Uzbekistan's leading political opposition figures, Mohammed Solih. A court hearing is scheduled for November 30 to determine whether Solih will be extradited to Uzbekistan.

Czech police arrested Solih on November 28 as soon as he passed through passport control at Prague Airport. He was visiting the Czech Republic at the invitation of the US-sponsored Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty. An associate of Solih's Czech defense lawyer, Miroslava Kohoutova, told EurasiaNet in a telephone interview that the Uzbek government was responsible for the Interpol arrest warrant.

Human Rights Watch, in a statement, called for the immediate release of Solih, who is chairman of the Erk Democratic Party. "This is a matter of life and death for Mr. Solih," said Elizabeth Andersen, the executive director of Human Rights Watch's Europe and Central Asia Division.

Solih was convicted in abstentia on terrorism-related charges on November 17, 2000, receiving a 15-year prison sentence. He has vigorously denied any connection to terrorist organizations and characterized the verdict as illegal. "We do not expect any justice from this government [of Uzbek President Islam Karimov]," Solih told Iranian radio at the time of his conviction.

Solih's trial was connected to a 1999 series of bombings in the Uzbek capital Tashkent. The Uzbek government has portrayed the bombings as an assassination attempt against Karimov, organized by the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU). IMU leaders Juma Namangani and Tahir Yuldashev were sentenced to death in abstentia at the same November 2000 trial. Namangani was recently reported killed in fighting in Afghanistan.

Solih was the only challenger to Karimov during Uzbekistan's 1991 presidential election. Erk was banned in 1992, and Solih went into exile. Since fleeing Uzbekistan, Solih has lived in Turkey and Germany, while continuing to denounce Karimov's administration. "I can only say that Karimov is not in an enviable position because, among Central Asian nations, Uzbekistan is in the worst position [in terms of economic development]," Solih said during a January 2001 interview broadcast by Iranian radio. "I am surprised that people … are not tired of believing in Karimov's lies."

Since the 1999 Tashkent bombings, the Uzbek government has carried out a ruthless crackdown against freedom of speech and religious expression. Officials have justified their actions as necessary to maintain stability in Uzbekistan in the face of an insurgent campaign conducted by the IMU. International human rights groups and governments have criticized Uzbekistan's human rights practices.

However, such criticism by governments, including the United States, has become muted since Uzbekistan emerged as a key strategic partner in the anti-terrorism campaign in Afghanistan. Human rights advocates suggested that Karimov is taking advantage of his new international status to make a move to crush old domestic opponents.

According to Human Rights Watch's Acacia Shields, who attended the November 2000 trial, Uzbekistan urged Interpol to detain Solih shortly after his conviction. In recent weeks, Tashkent appears to have repeated its request, Shields told EurasiaNet. "That Interpol acted now … does appear to be very much linked with the international community's interest in anti-terrorism measures," Shields said. "I am appalled that Interpol would act as the henchman of a government that is known to convict people without grounds."

Three of Solih's brothers are currently imprisoned in Uzbekistan, serving sentences that range from 10 to 15 years. Solih insists that the charges against his brothers were fabricated and intended to punish him for his political opposition to Karimov's government. "My tragedy, the tragedy of my family and my brothers is only one episode of a greater tragedy [in Uzbekistan]," Solih said in his 2000 radio interview.