Press Release
The Court of Appeals Delivered an Unjust Ruling without any Justification!
(Translated)

On December 16, the Uzbek courts issued a judgment that will mark a massive black stain in the history of the current Uzbek regime. The sentences of imprisonment for 15 young men, who had already spent 20 years in the prisons of the deceased Karimov, remained nearly unchanged. This government was entirely unmoved by the pleas of the families of these former political prisoners—their parents, virtuous wives, and relatives—or by calls to fear Allah, cease oppressing the oppressed, and other such appeals. How hard are their hearts!

The reading of the judgment once again confirms that Uzbekistan's judicial system is in a pitiful state and has not undergone any significant change since the era of the tyrant Karimov. The lofty talk of judicial reform is nothing but empty rhetoric. This verdict also signifies that the Uzbek regime has admitted its weakness before the truth and its defeat in the face of strong Islamic thought. These young men carried no weapons; they only carried their unwavering faith in Allah and a sound Islamic ideology. Yet, the regime shamelessly contradicts its claims of using "enlightenment against ignorance" and "thought against thought" by resorting to force, repression, and violence! How can this regime combat thought with thought when it lacks any sound principles of its own? Propaganda promoting nationalism and so-called national values built on false, useless, and empty sentiments cannot lead our Muslim people nor solve their problems. Hence, there is a growing interest among people in Islamic Shari’ah (belief), which aligns with human nature, convinces the mind, and brings peace to the heart, as well as in Islamic Aqeedah, which offers correct solutions to all problems. There is undoubtedly a dire need in society for sincere and righteous carriers of the Dawah to fulfill this noble mission.

These young men, who were unjustly tried, were at the forefront of bringing this call to the people. Their only "crime" was believing that the way out of the current weakness and backwardness plaguing our country and people is the re-establishment of Islamic governance. The regime labeled them as dangerous criminals simply because they considered the democratic system corrupt and warned Muslims of its unsuitability for governance, asserting that it would bring nothing but harm and misery to the people.

The Constitution of Uzbekistan itself guarantees freedom of opinion. Just ten days ago, on December 8, in celebration of Constitution Day, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev congratulated the people and urged them to study and respect the constitution. Yet, this same President Mirziyoyev was the first to violate the constitution he demanded the people to respect, and this is not the first instance. In fact, the Uzbek regime disregards the very foundational law it adopted, while insisting the people adhere to it! Fifteen young men were labeled as criminals and sentenced to long prison terms merely because their thoughts did not align with the regime. They are being persecuted because their ideas are purely Islamic truths. Thus, the so-called freedom of opinion in a democratic state is fundamentally hollow, based on double standards. If the regime approves an idea, it is accepted; if not, it is rejected, and its proponent is punished! Severe penalties are imposed on those who carry Islamic ideas, while we have never seen such harsh treatment of actual criminals.

Undoubtedly, the sole reason for the prohibition of the Islamic Dawah and the obstacles placed before our Muslim people in their pursuit of Islam is the regime's attempt to appease colonial powers like Russia. By seeking to please Russia and its other "big brothers," even at the expense of angering and alienating its own people, the Uzbek regime continues to invite ruin upon itself. Such shameful actions have never brought about positive outcomes. Yet, the officials of this regime are incapable of learning lessons from the tragic fates of their predecessors or even from the events unfolding before their very eyes today! How many lessons must Allah give them to return to the truth? What more do they need to open their eyes?

Indeed, their condition is truly pitiable! The consequences of their deeds before Allah will be even more severe and humiliating. And when they regret their oppression of Allah's righteous servants, it will be too late for remorse!

[وَيَوْمَ يَعَضُّ الظَّالِمُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ يَقُولُ يَا لَيْتَنِي اتَّخَذْتُ مَعَ الرَّسُولِ سَبِيلاً * يَا وَيْلَتَى لَيْتَنِي لَمْ أَتَّخِذْ فُلَاناً خَلِيلاً]

“And the Day the wrongdoer will bite on his hands [in regret] he will say, "Oh, I wish I had taken with the Messenger a way. * Oh, woe to me! I wish I had not taken that one as a friend.” [Al-Furqan:27-18].

Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir
in Wilayah Uzbekistan