Press Release
Nusratullah Mirzakanov: Another Martyr from the Prisons of the Uzbek Regime
(Translated)

Hizb ut Tahrir in Uzbekistan mourns to the Islamic Ummah in general and to the people of Uzbekistan in particular, the martyr Nusratullah Mirzakanov, who joined the convoy of martyrs in this blessed month. Nusratullah, may Allah have mercy on him, was born in 1976 in Andijan. He responded to Hizb ut Tahrir’s call to resume the Islamic life, leading to his arrest by the brutal regime of Karimov in 2000 at the age of only 24, in the prime of his youth. He then spent half of his life in the prisons of the oppressive regime.

Amid harsh conditions, including severe physical and psychological torture, he suffered from severe headaches and epilepsy, deteriorating his health significantly. Despite this, Mirziyoyev's regime, which succeeded the bloodthirsty Karimov, refused to release him. Meanwhile, criminals imprisoned for heinous crimes such as murder, drug trafficking, rape, and theft have had their sentences reduced or were even set free! However, those who carry the call of Islam are met with relentless cruelty under the pretext of "religious charges," with no leniency in court or after sentencing. Even when they are on the brink of death, they are denied release, as evidenced by the suffering of our brother Nusratullah and many others.

These young men, imprisoned in damp cells merely for saying "Our Lord is Allah," have spent their lives in incarceration, most of them close to death, if not already perished. Meanwhile, the criminal regime, which releases actual criminals citing "health concerns," keeps these innocent men imprisoned for over a quarter of a century without justification. Today, the Uzbek regime escalates its oppression by re-imprisoning those who were recently released and sentencing them to long prison terms. The regime has unjustly jailed 15 young men and brought 31 others to trial, reminiscent of Karimov’s policies.

Through these crimes and its oppression of Allah’s righteous servants, the Uzbek regime has humiliated itself before the world. Now, it should prepare for severe torment and disgrace on the Day of Judgment!

Nusratullah was supposed to be released in a year and a half, but his condition worsened due to epilepsy. He collapsed, suffering a brain hemorrhage. After being taken out of prison for surgery, his time had come, and he returned his soul to his Lord. At his funeral, it was said that "Nusratullah" means "Victory of Allah," and by Allah’s will, he left this world victorious.

The Prophet (swt) said in a hadith narrated by Ibn Umar:

«من قام على لا إله إلا الله لا يكون له هول الموت ولا هول القبر ولا هول يوم القيامة»

“Whoever upholds ‘La ilaha illa Allah’ (There is no god but Allah) shall not fear the terrors of death, the grave, or the Day of Judgment.”

We ask Allah Almighty to grant Nusratullah safety from these terrors. O Allah, guide us to the straight path as well. These heartfelt prayers at his funeral sent shivers down spines and brought tears to many eyes. Nusratullah was never married and left no children behind.

We are deeply saddened by the loss of our brother Nusratullah, but we rejoice in his meeting with Allah while fasting in the blessed month of Ramadan; this is indeed the ultimate success. Nusratullah triumphed over his oppressors who sought to break his faith and steadfastness, but in the end, they were the ones defeated.

[مِّنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ رِجَالٌ صَدَقُوا مَا عَاهَدُوا اللهَ عَلَيْهِ فَمِنْهُم مَّن قَضَى نَحْبَهُ وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَنتَظِرُ وَمَا بَدَّلُوا تَبْدِيلاً]

“Among the believers are men true to what they promised Allah. Among them is he who has fulfilled his vow [to the death], and among them is he who awaits [his chance]. And they did not alter [the terms of their commitment] by any alteration” [Surat Al-Ahzab: 23]

O beloved servant of Allah, Nusratullah, we congratulate you on martyrdom. We do not claim to know your fate before Allah, but we consider you among the martyrs. We pray that Allah has mercy on our brother, grants him a place among the martyrs in the Gardens of Paradise, and rewards him with His boundless grace. We extend our condolences to his family and ask Allah to grant them patience and strength. We say only what pleases our Lord: [إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ] “Indeed, we belong to Allah, and to Him we shall return.” [Surat Al-Baqara:156]

Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Uzbekistan