More on the Uzbek photographer prosecuted for her photos

<p>Here is more information on the Uzbek journalist prosecuted for her work: http://www.rferl.org/content/The_Photographer_Who_Portrays_Uzbeks_As_Barbarians/1931271.html<br>

When I posted information on this case earlier, one of responses was that the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty have been established by the US government during the Cold war, the implication being that the information provided by the Radios cannot be trusted. To this I have to say the following. Firstly, the government of Uzbekistan is being courted by the US government because Uzbekistan is crucially important for access to the theater of war in Afghanistan; The Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty nevertheless criticizes the government of Uzbekistan. Secondly, you may want to read the reports on human rights in Uzbekistan by such organizations as Human Rights Watch http://www.hrw.org/europecentral-asia/uzbekistan and Amnesty International http://www.amnesty.org/en/region/uzbekistan . Thirdly, the mainstream US media doesn't cover Central Asia -- they don't have correspondents there on a regular basis. How much do you know about the civil war in Tajikistan in the early 1990s that killed more than 1000,000 people? So the Radios do a good job by bringing the news from that part of the world to our attention. </p>

<p>You may also look the case up here: http://enews.ferghana.ru/article.php?id=2599 , and here: http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/2308 , and here : http://www.wluml.org/fr/node/5811 , or just google Umida Ahmedova or a different transliteration of her last name Akhmedova.</p>

<p><img src="http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs237.snc1/8424_1271764471399_1148490740_30870532_3333997_n.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>I have to say that I was in Uzbekistan in September, a wonderful place. Yet another example of a country, a people, far nicer than their government.</p>

<p>Pictures like those abound from almost every country on earth, including America. I've only seen the 20 in the slide show, but I like them. They do NOT make me lose interest in getting to know the country. I think it portrays the Uzbeks as a warm and endearing people (and I bet they are). The government's reaction is childish. </p>

<p>I would describe the government's reaction as Soviet in essence -- in the Soviet Union the authorities believed that they should control the way the reality is portrayed, be it by writers, artists, or photographers, while the secret police made up cases to prove their vigilance and usefulness. Uzbekistan is ruled by the Soviet bureaucrats who repainted themselves pale green from pale red. Here is the latest on the case: http://www.rferl.org/content/Art_Critics_Back_Uzbek_Photographer_Charged_With_Defamation/1935107.html</p>

<p>And here is the latest: </p>

<h1>Uzbek Photographer Convicted, Amnestied For Libel http://www.rferl.org/content/Uzbek_Photographer_Convicted_Amnestied_For_Libel/1954277.ht</h1>

<p>Uzbekistan is a beautiful country with the wonders of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva. Unfortunately the leader of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov is guilty of the most grave crimes against humanity. People have been boiled alive in Uzbek prison. There are some 10.000 political prisoners. Torture and murder is very common inside the prison. Check Craig Murrays blog for great insight into the atrocities. Murray used to be the UK ambassador to Uzbekistan but he was fired by his own government when he uncovered some of the most disgusting atrocities committed by the Uzbek regime. Ironically, Uzbekistan has been a loyal ally in the war on terror recieveing enormous amounts of US money for the use of an airbase during the war against the taliban in Afghanistan.</p>