New York, March 15, 2004) The International League for Human Rights, a non-governmental organization based in New York with special consultative status with the UN ECOSOC, expresses its concern about the arrest and conviction of Nasrullah ibn Ibadullah, the former chief mufti of Turkmenistan and an ethnic Uzbek, who was sentenced on 2 March to 22 years of imprisonment on charges of treason. The first five years are to be spent in a high security prison. According to reliable sources, the sentence was not officially announced on state-controlled media and the judge who tried Ibadullah refused to discuss the case further. Commentators believe that Ibadullah was arrested for his opposition to the enforced use and display of Niyazov’s spiritual guide, “Rukhnama,” in mosques and his overall criticism of Niyazov’s tight grip on the Muslim community.

Ibadullah’s imprisonment appears to be another setback to religious freedom and expression in Turkmenistan, but also unique in that a representative of Sunni Islam, one of only two state-sanctioned religions (the other being Russian Orthodox), was targeted this time. Over the past year, harassment and attacks occurred against religious minority groups, who are forced to gather and worship in secrecy, often in designated homes which later get raided. Particularly vulnerable have been various Protestant evangelical and Muslim Shia groups. In January 2003 Niyazov replaced Ibadullah as chief mufti with an ethnic Turkmen, Kakagely Vepaev, in an attempt, it seems, to appoint a more obedient Muslim leader who could quote frequently and approvingly from the “Rukhnama.” The League notes that many prominent Uzbek leaders have been arrested and sentenced.

Although Turkmenistan has continually ignored appeals to abide by international human rights norms, on March 11 Niyazov issued two vaguely-worded decrees, one allowing Turkmen citizens to leave the country freely and another guaranteeing them religious freedom, according to government sources. It remains to be seen, however, whether these decrees will remain simply rhetoric or will signify a turning point in Turkmenistan’s official policy restricting the freedom of movement and religious affiliation.

Niyazov’s announcement was made amid repeated calls by human rights groups for the Bush administration to designate Turkmenistan a “country of particular concern” regarding religious freedom. The decree on religion purports to allow religious groups to register “regardless of their number, confession and religion on the territory of Turkmenistan in prescribed manner” (sec. 2). The League welcomes implementation of this measure. To have effect though, such a promise would have to be immediately followed with a repeal of the October 2003 Law on Religion declaring illegal all unregistered religious activities. Also in need of abolishment is the new amendment in the country's Criminal Code, which threatens religious minorities by prescribing penalties of up to a year of "corrective labor" for breaking this law.

Also under continual threat in Turkmenistan is freedom of expression. Last month, Rakhim Esenov, a well-known writer and journalist working for RFE/RL’s Turkmen service, was arrested on charges on trying to smuggle copies of his book Niyazov claimed contained “historic crimes.” He was released from detention on March 10, but was warned by authorities to end his involvement with RFE/RL. Meanwhile, another RFE/RL journalist Ashyrguly Bayryev was arrested on March 1 and was released only recently. Both journalists have been charged with treason and are awaiting trial. The League fears these arrests are politically motivated and part of a campaign to quell legitimate criticism of Niyazov’s regime.

The League appeals to the government of Turkmenistan to make public its sentencing of Ibadullah and to conduct a complete and impartial investigation into the charges made against him by ordering a retrial with full access granted to domestic and international observers. The League also urges President Niyazov to end restrictions which deny its citizens fundamental freedoms, including those of expression, association, and religion.