Recently in Uzbekistan Category

● Children as young as 10 work cotton fields for two months or more

The report says  the Government of Uzbekistan continues to lie to the international community while routinely compelling hundreds of thousands of children as labourers in the country's annual cotton harvest.

It presents evidence that little has changed despite the promises of the Uzbek
Government and with the spring planting season just around the corner, EJF asks
whether it will be children forced to pick the crop again when the harvest comes
around later this year.

 

Uzbekistan sent a chilling warning to its photographers and artists this week by convicting, Umida Akhmedova, the acclaimed photographer and documentary filmmaker, in a slander trial that harked back to the days of Soviet censorship. Can a photographer actually be guilty of defamation for taking photographs that reveal poverty rather than the cherubic photographs of put out by the tourist board?

Uzbekistan sent a chilling warning to its photographers and artists this week by convicting, Umida Akhmedova, the acclaimed photographer and documentary filmmaker, in a slander trial that harked back to the days of Soviet censorship. See Umida's striking images below and read the news story here.
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THE acclaimed Uzbek photographer Umida Ahmedova has been charged with with causing "insult and slander against Uzbek people and traditions." for her work covering subjects such as poverty and inequality. Apparently Uzbek officials disapprove of her photos used her documentary "The Burden Of Virginity" and the book "Customs Of Men And Women," which focus on poverty and gender inequality in Uzbekistan. An investigator at Tashkent's police department, told her that anyone who cooperated in the production of the coffee table book produced in 2007 under support of Swiss Embassy Gender Program, had been charged.

Workcamp for Uzbek Filmmaker?

See further reports: 

Le journaliste ouzbek Khayroullo Khamidov, commentateur sportif, poète et animateur d'une émission de radio très populaire, a été arrêté hier matin. Accusé de faire partie d'une organisation religieuse interdite, il doit comparaître dès demain devant un tribunal de Tachkent (capitale).

The Uzbek journalist Khayroullo Khamidov, sports commentator, poet and host of a radio show popular, was arrested yesterday morning. Accused of belonging to a banned religious organization, it should appear tomorrow before a court in Tashkent (the capital).
"The haste of the authorities is highly suspect, given their propensity to refer to all opponents and activists of civil society as 'extremist', responded Reporters Without Borders. Two weeks after five independent journalists have been summoned by prosecutors accountable for their professional activities, the autocratic government of Islam Karimov continues his offensive without fear of reactions from the international community. "

- Being punished for filming  "The Burden Of Virginity"
- Featured at Prague One World film festival 2006,

Umida Ahmedova, a prominent Uzbek photographer/videographer, was charged on December 16 with defamation and damaging the country's image because of the content of her photos and videos. Examples of her photos can be seen here. Umida Ahmedova, 54, took a series of photos and video at obscure Uzbek villages that she used for two documentaries in a project sponsored by the Swiss Embassy in Tashkent. Ahmedova says Uzbek officials disapprove of her photos used in and the documentaries "The Burden Of Virginity" and "Customs Of Men And Women," which focus on poverty and gender inequality in Uzbekistan.
Ahmedova said the charges against her are "groundless" and "absurd." Tashkent police investigator Nodir Ahmadjonov said the Prosecutor-General's Office found her photos and videos to be defamatory and insulting. If found guilty, Ahmedova could face a fine and be sentenced in a work camp for up to two years.

ACCLAIMED Uzbek photographer Umida Ahmedova has been charged with with causing "insult and slander against Uzbek people and traditions" for her work covering subjects such as poverty and inequality. An investigator at Tashkent police department, told her that everyone who cooperated with her in the production of a coffee table book  had been charged. The book,  "Women and men: from dawn till dusk", was produced in 2007 under support of Swiss Embassy Gender Program.
See Umida's controversial photographs here