On 7 October, more than three months after his arrest, Samarkand District Criminal Court jailed 22-year-old Shia Muslim Sunnatillo Akparov for five years for distributing marthiyas (Shia musical lamentations) on a Shia Telegram channel he ran. The court ruled that they were "materials containing a threat to public security and public order". Akparov appealed against his conviction, but on 3 November Samarkand Regional Criminal Court upheld the sentence.

Generally accepted in the Shia Muslim understanding of marthiyas is that they evoke the battle of Karbala in October 680. They aim to portray the courage and determination of the followers of Imam Husayn, who according to Shias was martyred for his faith.

The government's Religious Affairs Committee's "expert analysis" of the marthiyas claimed they "encouraged the activity and teachings of various [unspecified] ideological movements". An Investigator of Samarkand Police brought the criminal case for distribution of "materials containing a threat to public security and public order" (see below).

After initially denying that he was hearing the case, Judge Laziz Azizov of Samarkand District Criminal Court insisted to Forum 18 in September that Akparov "listened to extremist songs. The punishment for this is imprisonment." Asked why listening to an "extremist" song is equal to a serious crime and deserves imprisonment, the Judge did not answer (see below).

Ravshan (who refused to give his last name), Assistant to the Deputy Chair of Samarkand Regional Criminal Court, refused to put Forum 18 through to Judge Zafar Ibragimov, who had rejected Akparov's appeal. He also refused to answer Forum 18's questions about Judge Ibragimov's decision. He said only that if Akparov or his family are not happy with the decision, they can appeal further. "We will not answer your questions over the phone. You can send your questions in writing to the Supreme Court" (see below).

Following the appeal decision, officials appear to have transferred Akparov from Kattakurgan Investigation Prison, where they had held him since his arrest on 23 June. Those who know him say they do not yet know where officials took him. Officials at the Interior Ministry's Department of Execution of Punishments in Tashkent refused to answer Forum 18's questions on where Akparov is being held (see below).

Muslim prisoner of conscience Fariduddin Abduvokhidov was serving an 11-year jail term handed down in 2020. His "crime" was meeting with others in his home city of Tashkent to discuss Islam. In December 2023, a Tashkent Region court handed down a further 10-year term. He has been held at Bukhara's strict-regime Prison No. 17 in Qorovulbazar since April 2025. It appears the 32-year-old is now due for release in November 2034 (see below).

In summer 2026, prison officials placed Abduvokhidov in a different cell than his own with another prisoner "acting like a hooligan", his father told Forum 18. "They had a fist-fight. Then seeing that they could not break Fariduddin, the prison officers returned him to his cell." Abduvokhidov complained to his mother about the incident during her prison visit. "Later the prison officers put him in temporary solitary confinement as a punishment for complaining" (see below).

Bakhodyr Muratov, Abduvokhidov's father, was able to see his son in Qorovulbazar Prison in late summer 2026. Abduvokhidov "seemingly looks healthy, but he does not tell us he is treated badly in prison since he is afraid that the prison authorities may punish him more for complaining," he told Forum 18. Muratov noted that "I am not feeling well". He then added: "I am afraid that I will die before seeing him in freedom again" (see below).

Officials at the prison did not answer the phone each time Forum 18 called. Officials at the Interior Ministry's Department of Execution of Punishments in Tashkent refused to answer Forum 18's questions on the treatment of Abduvokhidov in prison (see below).

A Tashkent court jailed Tulkun Astanov – who is now 55 – for 5 years in November 2020 for defending the rights of other Muslims. In May 2025, as the sentence was close to ending, a court in Bukhara Region jailed him for a further 3 years and two months in a strict-regime labour camp. He has been held at Koson Prison in the southern Kashkadarya Region since summer 2025 (see below).

Astanov has been repeatedly tortured in prison for praying the namaz and suffered his third stroke while in prison. Officials at the Interior Ministry's Department of Execution of Punishments in Tashkent refused to answer Forum 18's questions on the treatment of Astanov in prison (see below).

Banning exercise of freedom of religion or belief

Without state registration, religious communities do not have state permission to exist and it is illegal for them to exercise freedom of religion and belief collectively. Among Muslims, the regime allows only communities subject to the state-controlled Sunni Muslim Muftiate (Muslim Board) to exist, even though this is not specified in the Religion Law.

Officials continue to refuse registration applications from Muslim communities such as Shias and those who wish to operate outside the state-controlled Muftiate (Muslim Board). They also frequently continue to refuse applications from non-Muslim communities, including Protestant and Jehovah's Witness communities.

The regime has blocked Shia Muslims' attempts to reopen mosques in Bukhara - including the Hoji Bahrom Mosque - with property excuses. Eventually officials allowed Hoji Bahrom Mosque to reopen for worship. Shia Muslims in Samarkand have not tried to open their own mosques as "they are afraid of the authorities".

The regime has also tried to prevent individuals of all faiths from covering religious issues on social media. Officials warned Shia Muslims in Bukhara and Samarkand in June 2021 "not to publish religious materials on their social media". One human rights defender stated that "after the warning many deleted their accounts, or deleted religious materials".

Akparov: Arrested for sharing Shia lamentation songs

Police in the south-eastern city of Samarkand began monitoring a Shia social media channel on Telegram with 94 Uzbek Shia Muslim members in February 2024, according to the subsequent decision on criminal prosecution (seen by Forum 18) prepared by Senior Lieutenant Shokhrukh Asliddinov, an Investigator of Samarkand Police.

After monitoring the channel for more than two years, Police decided on 1 May 2026 to bring an action against the owner of the Telegram channel, local Shia Muslim Sunnatillo Ikram ugli Akparov (born 20 February 2004), the decision adds.

On 6 May, Police asked the Religious Affairs Committee in Tashkent for an "expert analysis" of marthiyas (Shia musical lamentations) distributed on the Telegram channel. It appears the Committee "experts" produced their analysis on the same day. The "experts" found that the "information distributed by Akparov to the members of the group via Telegram encouraged the activity and teachings of various ideological movements".

Senior Lieutenant Asliddinov led the investigation of Akparov and signed the decision to open the criminal case. The decision claims that Akparov "illegally distributed religious hymns [Shia lamentation - marthiya] (..) titled 'Al Qawlu Qawlu Sawarim', 'Darbuna darbun', 'Habat Riyah al Asifa', and 'Axi Anta Hurrun' to the members of the Telegram group, using the Internet and a mobile phone".

Investigator Asliddinov stated in the decision that he opened the criminal case because of the Religious Affairs Committee "expert analysis". The decision gives no other serious reasons to support the charges.

Reached in August, Investigator Asliddinov at first denied he investigated the criminal case against Akparov. When Forum 18 told him that it has seen a copy of his decision to open the criminal investigation and asked why the Police in Samarkand has been carrying out massive raids and arrested members of the local Shia community, he responded: "I do not know you. You should talk to the Interior Ministry and not me." He then put the phone down.

On 4 June, Samarkand District Police brought criminal charges against Akparov under Criminal Code Article 244-1, Part 3, Point 4 ("Production, storage, distribution or display of materials containing a threat to public security and public order with use of the mass media or telecommunication networks as well as the internet" when carried out by a group). Punishment is a jail term of 5 to 8 years.

Police arrested Akparov on 23 June and took him to Kattakurgan Investigation Prison in Samarkand Region. Akparov's mother travelled to the prison in early August to try to see him, but prison officials did not grant this. They told her she could see him only after the trial.

Akparov: Court jails him for 5 years

The criminal trial of Shia Muslim Sunnatillo Akparov began on 25 August under Judge Laziz Azizov at Samarkand District Criminal Court under Criminal Code Article 244-1, Part 3, Point 4 ("Production, storage, distribution or display of materials containing a threat to public security and public order with use of the mass media or telecommunication networks as well as the internet" when carried out by a group).

During the 25 August trial hearing, Judge Azizov tried to pressure Akparov to admit guilt. "The Judge insisted that Akparov admit that he had two songs on his phone that were 'Wahhabi' extremist material," an individual familiar with the case told Forum 18.

After initially denying that he was hearing the case, Judge Azizov insisted to Forum 18 in September that Akparov "listened to extremist songs. The punishment for this is imprisonment." Asked why listening to an "extremist" song is equal to a serious crime and deserves imprisonment, the Judge https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=3070">did not answer.

Further trial hearings were held on 11 and 25 September, according to court records. At the final hearing on 7 October, Judge Azizov found Akparov guilty and handed him a 5-year jail term, those who know him told Forum 18.

Akparov: Appeal Court upholds 5-year prison sentence

Shia Muslim Sunnatillo Akparov appealed against his conviction to Samarkand Regional Criminal Court. Judge Zafar Ibragimov heard his appeal on 3 November, according to court records.

Judge Ibragimov upheld Akparov's 5-year prison sentence, those who know him told Forum 18 on 11 November. They could not give more information as his family does not want to talk about the case for fear of state reprisals.

Reached on 13 November, Ravshan (who refused to give his last name), Assistant to the Deputy Chair of Samarkand Regional Criminal Court, refused to put Forum 18 through to Judge Ibragimov. He also refused to answer Forum 18's questions about Judge Ibragimov's decision. He said only that if Akparov or his family are not happy with the decision, they can appeal further. "We will not answer your questions over the phone. You can send your questions in writing to the Supreme Court."

Officials appear to have transferred Akparov from Kattakurgan Investigation Prison, where they had held him since his arrest. Those who know him say they do not yet know where officials took him.

Officials at the Interior Ministry's Department of Execution of Punishments in Tashkent refused to answer Forum 18's questions on where Akparov is being held. An official of the Department (who refused to give her name) told Forum 18 on 13 November: "No one will answer your questions. You can write a letter to the Foreign Ministry."

Abduvokhidov: Placed in solitary confinement as "punishment for complaining"

Muslim prisoner of conscience Fariduddin Bakhodir ogli Abduvokhidov (born 14 June 1994) was serving an 11-year jail term handed down in 2020. His "crime" was meeting with others in his home city of Tashkent to discuss Islam. In December 2023, a Tashkent Region court handed down a further 10-year term. His new "crime" was to be three minutes late for a prison roll call. On 17 March 2025, after seven hearings, Navoi City Court handed down a further 10-year prison term.

Officials transferred Abduvokhidov to Bukhara's strict-regime Prison No. 17 in Qorovulbazar on 10 April 2025. It appears the 32-year-old is now due for release in November 2034.

During summer 2026, prison officials placed Abduvokhidov in a different cell than his own. They held him there temporarily with another prisoner "acting like a hooligan", Abduvokhidov's father Bakhodyr Muratov recounted. "They had a fist-fight. Then seeing that they could not break Fariduddin, the prison officers returned him to his cell."

Abduvokhidov's mother visited her son shortly after this. "When his mother visited him in the prison, she found out about the incident and complained to the Prison Chief," Abduvokhidov's father told Forum 18. "Later the prison officers put him in temporary solitary confinement as a punishment for complaining."

Bakhodyr Muratov, Abduvokhidov's father, was able to see his son in Qorovulbazar Prison in late summer 2026. The father recounted that when he visited, the Prison Chief met him at the prison gate and asked him to tell him if he has any complaints about his son's prison conditions. "He said that I could call for him and that he would come and try to sort out our complaint." But Abduvokhidov did not want to complain since it could result in more punishment.

Abduvokhidov "seemingly looks healthy, but he does not tell us he is treated badly in prison since he is afraid that the prison authorities may punish him more for complaining," Muratov told Forum 18 days after the visit. Muratov noted that "I am not feeling well". He then added: "I am afraid that I will die before seeing him in freedom again."

Officials at Prison No. 17 in Qorovulbazar did not answer the phone each time Forum 18 called on 12 and 13 November.

Officials at the Interior Ministry's Department of Execution of Punishments in Tashkent refused to answer Forum 18's questions on the treatment of Abduvokhidov in prison as well as whether the authorities investigated violations against and torture of prisoners of conscience. An official of the Department (who refused to give her name) told Forum 18 on 13 November: "No one will answer your questions. You can write a letter to the Foreign Ministry."

Abduvokhidov's prison address:

Uzbekistan
200900 Bukhara viloyati
Qorovulbozor tumoni
Istiklol kuchasi 1
17 sonli Jinoyati Ijro Etish Koloniyasi

Astanov: Prisoner of conscience in strict regime Koson prison in Kashkadarya

A Tashkent court punished Tulkun Tashmuradovich Astanov (born 25 April 1971) in November 2020 for defending the rights of other Muslims. As the five-year jail term neared completion, prison officers brought a new criminal case. They claimed he had disobeyed orders by refusing to go to morning exercises. On 5 May 2025, a court in Bukhara Region jailed Astanov for a further 3 years and two months in a strict-regime labour camp.

Prisoner of conscience Astanov is serving his jail term in the strict-regime Koson Prison in the southern Kashkadarya Region. Officials transferred him there in late summer 2025 after Bukhara Regional Court upheld the new sentence in July 2025, his family told Forum 18 on 10 November 2026.

Astanov has been repeatedly tortured in prison for praying the namaz and suffered his third stroke while in prison.

Officials at Prison No. 10 in Koson did not answer the phone each time Forum 18 called on 12 and 13 November.

Officials at the Interior Ministry's Department of Execution of Punishments in Tashkent refused to answer Forum 18's questions on the treatment of Astanov in prison as well as whether the authorities investigated violations against and torture of prisoners of conscience. An official of the Department (who refused to give her name) told Forum 18 on 13 November: "No one will answer your questions. You can write a letter to the Foreign Ministry."

Astanov's prison address:

Uzbekistan
Qashgodaryo viloyati
Koson tumani, Pakhtazor mahallasi
Ichki Ishlar Bulimi 10-sonli Jazoni Ijro Etish Koloniyasi

(END)

More reports on freedom of thought, conscience and belief in Uzbekistan

For background information, see Forum 18's Uzbekistan religious freedom survey

Forum 18's compilation of Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) freedom of religion or belief commitments

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