Refugee from Uzbekistan Granted Asylum in Sweden

Yesterday, February 10, 2009, the Uzbek refugee Mukhammadsolikh Abutov was granted asylum in Sweden.

Abutov, the former imam of Karakalpakstan mosque (Uzbekistan), spent 8,5 years (1996-2004) in prison  in Uzbekistan for his religious beliefs.

His recollection of serving his fabricated sentence was published by Ferghana.Ru in 2007 (in Russian): http://www.ferghana.ru/article.php?id=5439

Human rights defense organizations initiated a public campaign in support of the former political prisoner when Abutov was illegally arrested in Moscow, Russia in view of his possible extradition to Uzbekistan.

For more information about Uzbek refugees in Russia visit Memorial website (in Russian): http://www.memo.ru/hr/politpr/asia/r4p.shtml

February 11, 2009