Frank R. Wolf FoRB Victims List: Uzbekistan

www.uscirf.gov/victims-list

USCIRF Recommended for Special Watch List

Uzbekistan

Updated March 2024

Independent Muslim Activists

The government continues to imprison an estimated 

2,000 Muslims who practice Islam independently of state 

controls or who express religious views that authorities find 

objectionable. Individuals including social media users who 

discuss their beliefs, share or distribute religious content, 

or criticize official policies related to religion face detention, 

arrest, and lengthy prison sentences.

Oybek Khamidov

religion or belief: Sunni Muslim

arrested: January 17, 2022

sentence: 5 Years’ Imprisonment

reason for persecution:

Sharing religious materials on social media

Alimardon Sultanov

religion or belief: Sunni Muslim

arrested: January 18, 2022

sentence: 7 Years’ Imprisonment

reports of torture: Yes

reason for persecution:

Criticizing religious freedom conditions

Religious Dissidents in Exile

The government utilizes methods of transnational 

repression to pursue individuals who previously fled abroad 

because of their religious activity or religious affiliations. 

In some cases, authorities have reportedly encouraged 

Muslims to return to Uzbekistan in order to arrest and 

charge them.

Alijon Mirganiyev

religion or belief: Sunni Muslim

arrested: June 22, 2022

sentence: 6 Years, 6 Months’ Imprisonment

reason for persecution:

Adherence to a Religious Figure, Religious 

Activity, Travel Abroad

Muhsinjon Ahmedov

religion or belief:

Sunni Muslim

arrested:

November 14, 2023

reason for persecution:

Religious activities

Followers of Said Nursi

Authorities routinely detain and arrest Muslims for the 

illegal possession or distribution of religious literature and 

other materials deemed “extremist,” such as the writings of 

Sunni Muslim theologian Said Nursi. 

Bobirjon Tukhtamurodov

religion or belief: Sunni Muslim

arrested: April 11, 2022

sentence: 5 Years, 1 Months’ Imprisonment

reason for persecution:

Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting, 

Discussing Religion and Religious Texts

For more background on Uzbekistan’s religious and political 

prisoners, see USCIRF’s report.

FoRB Victims List Stats

88 out of 2,282

Religion or Belief # of Victims

Sunni 87

Unspecified Christian 1

Total 88

Type of Abuse # of Victims

Imprisoned 85

Detained 2

House Arrest 1

Total 88

Average Prison Sentence

18 Years, 10 Months

Reports of # of Victims

Torture 29

Medical Neglect 2

Total 31
Frank R. Wolf FoRB Victims List: Uzbekistan

www.uscirf.gov/victims-list

USCIRF Recommended for Special Watch List

Uzbekistan

Updated March 2024

Frank R. Wolf FoRB Victims List Background

The International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA), as amended by the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act of 2016, 

requires USCIRF to:

make publicly available, to the extent practicable...lists of persons it determines are imprisoned or detained, have 

disappeared, been placed under house arrest, been tortured, or subjected to forced renunciation of faith for their religious 

activity or religious freedom advocacy by the government of a foreign country that the Commission recommends for 

designation as a country of particular concern [CPC]...or by a nonstate actor that the Commission recommends for 

designation as an entity of particular concern [EPC]. 

USCIRF developed the Frank R. Wolf Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) Victims List—an online public database—to implement this 

provision for countries USCIRF recommends for Country of Particular Concern (CPC) or Special Watch List (SWL) status. The list also 

includes such victims located in the de facto territories of nonstate actors that USCIRF recommends for Entity of Particular Concern (EPC) 

status, according to the same criteria.

Due to limited resources, USCIRF is unable to identify and document all victims that meet the statutory requirement to be included on 

the FoRB Victims List and generally relies on receiving submissions from outside individuals and organizations. As such, the information 

contained in the database does not reflect country, regional, or global trends. Furthermore, percentages highlighted in this section should 

not be used for extrapolation purposes nor interpreted as a particular group experiencing greater violations than another or a particular 

country committing violations at a greater rate than others. To support this project, USCIRF invites those with credible information on 

victims to submit information using the Victims List Intake Form at www.uscirf.gov/form/uscirf-victims-list-intake-form. 

FoRB Victims List Stats Overall

Perpetrator Victims Documented

Algeria 5 

Azerbaijan 11 

Burma 5 

China 798 

Cuba 11 

Egypt 18 

Eritrea 61

Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) 2 

Houthis 3 

India 55 

Indonesia 9 

Iran 351 

Iraq 2 

Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) 1 

Kazakhstan 16 

Malaysia 4 

Nicaragua 68 

Nigeria 9 

North Korea 11 

Pakistan 87 

Russia 488 

Saudi Arabia 50 

Sri Lanka 1 

Tajikistan 16 

Turkmenistan 31 

Uzbekistan 88 

Vietnam 81 

Total 2,282 

Religion or Belief Victims Documented

Adivasi 1 

Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light 3

Baha’i 169 

Bon 1 

Buddhist – Hoa Hao 6 

Buddhist – Theravada 3 

Buddhist – Tibetan 93 

Buddhist – Unspecified/Other 32 

Christian – Catholic 79 

Christian – Church of Almighty God 240 

Christian – Jehovah’s Witness 283

Christian – Orthodox 21 

Christian – Protestant 150 

Christian – Unspecified/Other 65 

Duong Van Minh 4 

ECKist (Eckankar) 1 

Erfan-e Halgheh Practitioner 3 

Falun Gong 217

Hindu 10 

Humanist 1 

Jewish 1 

Muslim – Ahmadiyya 20

Muslim – Qur’anist 1 

Muslim – Shi’a 40 

Muslim – Sufi 64 

Muslim – Sunni 412 

Muslim – Unspecified/Other 233

Santeria 5 

Scientologist 1 

Shaman 1 

Sikh 1 

Yarsani 38 

Unknown/Unspecified 83

Total 2,282
Frank R. Wolf FoRB Victims List: Uzbekistan

www.uscirf.gov/victims-list

USCIRF Recommended for Special Watch List

Uzbekistan

Updated March 2024

Not Released

Muhsinjon Ahmedov 

Umar Badalov 

Fazilhoja Arifhojaev 

Alijon Mirganiyev 

Oybek Khamidov 

Alimardon Sultanov 

Tulkun Astanov 

Bobirjon Tukhtamurodov 

Feruz Shodiev 

Ibrohim Asronkulov 

Sodikjon Abdullaev 

Mirrakhim Mirsultonov 

Ulugbek Nasimov 

Nurmukhammad Mamadjonov 

Zukhriddin Madmarov 

Ibrokhimjon Isaboev 

Ikromjon Akhmajonov 

Dilmurod Tuleev 

Abduvohid Ishmuratov 

Umid Boltaboev 

Ravshan Ochilov 

Mukhammadjon Ibadullaev 

Bakhtiyor Sharipov 

Abdulkhomid Allaberdiev 

Bakhromjon Inogomov 

Nomoz Normurodov 

Murod Muminov 

Turnazar Boymatov

Kadyr Yusupov 

Mukhitdin Irgashev 

Abdulbosit Akhmajonov 

Akrom Zokirov 

Muhammadamin Abdurazzokov 

Olim Mirzaev 

Rakhmatjon Ernazarov 

Dilrukh Isakov 

Abror Akhmedov 

Rustam Nosirov 

Jamshidbek Atabekov 

Miraziz Mirzakhmedov 

Akbar Ikramov 

Murodjon Khayitov 

Fariduddin Abduvokhidov 

Akbar Absalov 

Bakhtiyor Tursunov 

Azimjon Abdusamatov 

Ubaydulla Murtazoyev 

Shakhzodjon Zokirov 

Alisher Kasymov 

Fayzulla Agzamov

Released

Jahongir Ulugmurodov

Khasan Abdirakhimov

Shavkat Khakimov

Ahmadjon Madumarov

Avazjon Umurzakov 

Husnitdin Umaraliev

Kobiljon Zokirov

Odilkhoja Dadakhojaev

Azizjon Bannopov

Ismon Usinbaev

Jamoliddin Khaidarov 

Umar Nishonbaev

Shukhrat Usmanov

Mashrap Rabiev

Otabek Irgashev 

Sardorbek Irgashev

Otabek Madaminov

Mukhiddin Jalolov

Erkinjon Oripov

Zabikhullo Muminov

Shamsiddin Giyasov

Ravshan Karimov 

Muhamadjon Akhmadjonov

Farrukh Yuldashev

Iskandar Iskandarov

Alisher Muminov

Ibrohim Kholmatov 

Jahongir Kamolov

Sanat Salimov

Muhammad Rashidov 

Nematullo Ibragimov 

Avaz Tokhtakhodjaev

Ravshan Kosimov

Tohir Djumanov

Usman Darvyshov

Khayrullo Tursunov 

Ruhiddin Fahriddinov 

Aramais Avakian