Uzbekistan extends sentences of two Muslim prisoners in crackdown on religious expression
Rights groups say Tashkent is punishing peaceful Islamic activity with vague charges and closed-door trials amid rising repression
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (MNTV) — Two Muslim prisoners in Uzbekistan have had their prison terms extended in what human rights groups describe as an ongoing campaign against peaceful religious expression, particularly Islamic practices viewed as politically sensitive by the state.
The two men — Tulkun Astanov and Fariduddin Abduvokhidov — were both initially imprisoned in 2020 for nonviolent religious activity. In recent months, Uzbek authorities have imposed further sentences based on charges that rights observers say are vague, opaque, and aimed at silencing dissent under the guise of national security.
According to The Times of Central Asia, 54-year-old Astanov received an additional three years and two months in May. A known activist who previously defended the rights of fellow Muslims, Astanov was accused of refusing morning exercises and disobeying prison orders.
His family and legal team say the extension is politically motivated and designed to block his release later this year. Despite suffering multiple strokes, prison officials allegedly dismissed his medical documentation requesting exemption from physical activity.
Abduvokhidov, 30, who was jailed for attending private Islamic study sessions, is now facing an effective sentence of over 22 years. His original 11-year term was extended by ten years in March, followed by an additional year in April. Relatives say he was accused of disseminating “religious propaganda” while in custody — a charge reportedly never fully explained to him. Emotionally drained and lacking faith in the judicial system, Abduvokhidov declined to appeal.
Rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, have repeatedly criticized Uzbekistan’s criminal code for its use of broad “extremism” provisions that allow for the prosecution of peaceful religious behavior. Trials are often conducted in secrecy, with no public access to court records or meaningful legal recourse for defendants. In both cases, families have not been allowed to view official documents or attend proceedings.
Analysts say these cases reflect the Uzbek government’s enduring anxiety around political Islam, a fear rooted in both its Soviet past and the influence of regional unrest.
Though Uzbekistan has promoted a reformist image in recent years, civil liberties advocates argue that repression of Islamic identity remains a key feature of its internal security policy.
As international attention to Central Asia grows, rights groups are calling for greater transparency and an end to what they describe as the criminalization of faith-based expression in the region.
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