Our Group’s Letters of Concern Helped Release Urinboy Usmonov of Tajikistan.
Urinboy Usmonov is a BBC journalist and novelist who was arrested on false charges. Falsely implicated in criminal activities related to banned religious groups.

Urinboy Usmonov
Following his arrest on June 13, 2011, Urunboy Usmonov was initially charged with participation in Hizb-ut-Tahrir, a banned religious group. These initial charges have been changed but still implicate Urunboy Usmonov in criminal activities related to the banned religious groups, and carry a sentence of between two and five years’ imprisonment.
Additionally, Urunboy Usmonov was not allowed to leave the country. Urunboy Usmonov maintains that his contact with Hizb-ut-Tahrir was in order to report on the causes for the organization’s increasing popularity. Amnesty International maintained that he was innocent and that he has been targeted for his legitimate work as a journalist. There are allegations that Usumov was tortured and otherwise ill-treated during detention.
After a lengthy trial in August 2011 Mr. Usmonov was found Guilty but released from charges by the judge. Released October 14, 2011
The Global Importune letter signing group began sending letters of concern on behalf of Urnnboy Usmonov to officials in the government of Tajikistan sometime around July 2011.
The national and international outcry helped secured the release of Urunboy Usmonov on October 14, 2011.
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