Uzbekistan historian harassed and intimidated
Dear colleagues,
Scholars at Risk (SAR), based at New York University, works to promote academic freedom and to defend the human rights of scholars worldwide, in part by arranging temporary placements for scholars who suffer grave threats to their work or their person. SAR is sending us a summary profile of a Uzbek historian [name confidential] (1970-) working at the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan and at the Tashkent State Institute of Oriental Studies. He was harassed during interrogations by the Uzbek security service as a result of some of his research topics (notably ethno-politics and democratization in Central Asia), his association with foreign scholars and his visits to foreign universities (which are controversial after the European Union imposed sanctions on Uzbekistan following the May 2005 massacre in Andizhan). He has authored articles focusing on the Bukhara emirate in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the history of Turkestan between 1919 and 1924, the relationship between Islam and democracy, and peace and stability in Central Asia. He is currently seeking assistance. Perhaps your university could accomodate our colleague. Thank you.
With best wishes,
Antoon De Baets
(Network of Concerned Historians)
P.S.: For information on the Andizhan massacre, see NCH Annual Reports 2006, 2007, 2008 on the NCH website.
Please email the Scholars at Risk Network office with any questions.
Scholars at Risk (SAR), based at New York University, works to promote academic freedom and to defend the human rights of scholars worldwide, in part by arranging temporary placements for scholars who suffer grave threats to their work or their person. SAR is sending us a summary profile of a Uzbek historian [name confidential] (1970-) working at the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan and at the Tashkent State Institute of Oriental Studies. He was harassed during interrogations by the Uzbek security service as a result of some of his research topics (notably ethno-politics and democratization in Central Asia), his association with foreign scholars and his visits to foreign universities (which are controversial after the European Union imposed sanctions on Uzbekistan following the May 2005 massacre in Andizhan). He has authored articles focusing on the Bukhara emirate in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the history of Turkestan between 1919 and 1924, the relationship between Islam and democracy, and peace and stability in Central Asia. He is currently seeking assistance. Perhaps your university could accomodate our colleague. Thank you.
With best wishes,
Antoon De Baets
(Network of Concerned Historians)
P.S.: For information on the Andizhan massacre, see NCH Annual Reports 2006, 2007, 2008 on the NCH website.
Please email the Scholars at Risk Network office