The case of Dildora Khakimova exposes the cruelty and fundamental flaws within Uzbekistan’s justice system, demonstrating a blatant disregard for its own laws and international human rights commitments. We demand immediate action!

Who is Dildora Khakimova? 

Dildora, a 41-year-old teacher and blogger from Kashkadarya region, is a tireless human rights and social justice activist. She courageously exposed corruption in the education system in the Kashkadarya region and helped people who could not afford legal representation to file complaints, serving as a public defender in court. 

A Questionable Conviction and Disproportionate Punishment 

In February 2024, Dildora was arrested and placed in pre-trial detention. She, along with six other individuals—bloggers, activists, teachers, and acquaintances—was convicted of “extortion [of approximately $1,000] by prior agreement of a group of persons” (Article 165 of the Uzbek Criminal Code) and sentenced to six years in prison. This conviction is based solely on the testimony of a former school director, fired for misconduct, who appears to have been motivated by revenge. Despite the court dismissing claims that the defendants acted as a criminal group, it still found them guilty of extortion by “prior agreement of a group of persons,” a clear discrepancy. Dildora’s appeals have been dismissed, cementing this injustice and her case is consistent with a pattern of systemic persecution of grassroots activists in Uzbekistan. 

Grave Human Rights Violations Against Dildora and Her Newborn 

Uzbekistan has breached multiple international human rights obligations, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), as well as authoritative soft law instruments such the Nelson Mandela Rules, the United Nations’ Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, and the Bangkok Rules, the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners.

  • Denial of Life-Saving Medical Care for Breast Cancer:
    • Dildora has been battling breast cancer for nearly seven years, and her health rapidly declined after giving birth.
    • The government has failed to provide her with adequate oncological treatment since her arrest, gravely endangering her health and life.
    • A recent medical examination has confirmed her condition has worsened and she now needs urgent treatment at an oncology hospital.
    • The prison where she is being held cannot provide the specialized oncological care she requires.
    • Denying her proper medical treatment violates her right to the highest attainable standard of health and non-discrimination on the basis of gender, as guaranteed by CEDAW, ICCPR, and ICESCR. The prohibition on torture and ill-treatment requires protective measures when serious health conditions are incompatible with prison environments.
  • Gender-Responsive Custodial Measures for Pregnant Persons Were Ignored:
    • Dildora was 12-weeks pregnant when she was placed in pre-trial detention in February 2024.
    • She received no antenatal care or medical examinations, including ultrasounds or blood tests, nor any nutritional supplements or dietary modifications.
    • During labor on September 9, 2024, medical staff handcuffed one of her arms to the bed. This directly contravenes the Bangkok Rules, which state that “instruments of restraint shall never be used on women during labour, during birth and immediately after birth”. Such restraint has been found by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) to amount to inhuman and degrading treatment.

 

  • Cruel Separation from Her Newborn Baby:
    • In November 2024, just two months after her daughter’s birth, authorities separated Dildora from her newborn baby, who is now with her father.
    • This separation violates the child’s right to parental care and Article 9 of the CRC, which obligates states not to separate children from parents unless it’s in the child’s best interests. The Committee on the Rights of the Child recommends continuous contact due to young children’s vulnerability and emotional ties.
    • The prison in Tashkent, where Dildora is held, is an eight-hour drive from her family. While the prison has facilities for mothers and children, including a kindergarten, the visitation schedule is entirely inadequate: only two days every three months for family visits and one 10-minute phone call per month. This further burdens her family and prevents essential contact.
    • The Bangkok and Nelson Mandela Rules also guide states to ensure children can remain with their mothers, emphasizing the child’s best interests. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights also holds that nursing children should remain with mothers if it’s in their best interests, and mothers should be given preference for alternative measures to detention. The Uzbek government’s own 2022 presidential decree “On Protecting Motherhood and Childhood” requires newborn children to remain with their mothers in detention.

Call to Action: We Demand Justice for Dildora Khakimova!

To the Uzbek Government:

  • Immediately release Dildora Khakimova to receive the life-saving medical care she desperately needs, ensure her recovery, and reunite her with her child and family. Her health has deteriorated significantly, and her life is in danger.
  • Overturn Dildora’s conviction! It does not meet international fair trial standards, violates free speech guarantees under Article 19 of the ICCPR, and is not supported by sufficient evidence as required under Article 14 of the ICCPR.
  • Ensure the full implementation of the 2022 presidential decree “on protecting motherhood and childhood” that guarantees medical provision and the right for newborns to remain with their mothers in detention.

To the General Public and International Community:

  • Raise your voice! Share Dildora’s story and demand accountability from the Uzbek government.
  • Pressure authorities to uphold international human rights standards and protect activists.
  • Support human rights organizations working to defend fundamental freedoms in Uzbekistan.

Dildora Khakimova’s life is at risk. We cannot stand idly by while she is denied basic human dignity and life-saving medical care. Join us in demanding her freedom NOW!