Uznews, Tashkent, 21 Nov 2008 – Uzbek human rights activist Mutabar Tajibayeva received the Martin Ennals human rights award in Geneva on 20 November. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour presented the award to Mutabar Tajibayeva.
Following the ceremony, Tajibayeva made a short report on the human rights situation in Uzbekistan and about the sufferings she and her other colleagues encountered because they chose to become human rights activists.
Opera star Barbara Hendricks performed after the ceremony and devoted her arias to human rights activists who suffer for justice, truth and the good.
The programme of the ceremony also included the screening of Dutch producer Duco Dovano’s documentary about Uzbekistan which has been run by President-dictator Islam Karimov for the past 19 years.
Through stories of victims of the Karimov regime, many of whom were killed in prison or are still facing torture, and fates of Uzbek refugees, in the documentary Dovano talks about Tajibayeva’s country.
Swiss television and the Euronews channel broadcast the documentary and the ceremony.
Martin Ennals award organisers said that the event was supported by the Swiss Foreign Ministry and the Geneva city council.
Mutabar Tajibayeva, 46, head of Fergana Region’s Fiery Hearts’ Club, is one of the brightest personalities of modern Uzbekistan.
Her personal qualities, such as wisdom, bravery, adherence to her ideals, sympathy with the victims of the Karimov regime and justice for all, made her a famous human rights activist in Uzbekistan.
These qualities also enabled her to withstand two years and eight months in prison which she left on 2 June 2008 without being broken but with full resolution to continue her human rights activities.
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