Human Rights Groups Say Many Released Prisoners are Peaceful Dissident Muslims

January 24, 2004

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3425813.stm

On January 24, 2004 the BBC News reported, "Uzbekistan has released more than 3,000 prisoners under a presidential amnesty, including nearly 400 people convicted of anti-constitutional activities. The releases, announced in December to mark the anniversary of the Uzbek constitution, have been taking place over several weeks. The Uzbek foreign ministry said those freed included 391 people jailed for what it called crimes against public security and anti-constitutional activity...Human rights groups say that many of those jailed are peaceful dissident Muslims, whom the government sees as political rivals."