Human Rights In Uzbekistan

EDM number 1799 in 2001-02, proposed by Harry Cohen on 22/10/2002.

That this House condemns the prevalence of torture in prisons in Uzbekistan; is disgusted at the recent case of the young men Avazoz and Alimov who were apparently tortured to death by boiling water in prison; is dismayed at the large number of political prisoners in the country and that the prosecuting authorities are far more powerful than the judges resulting in a conviction rate in trials of almost 100 per cent.; praises the UK Ambassador, Mr Craig Murray, for drawing attention to these matters; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government, along with its allies to press the Uzbekistan government for substantial prison and justice reform that properly recognises human rights, and that this be in place in practice and not just in statements or laws that are then ignored.

This motion has been signed by a total of 54 MPs.