Uzbekistan, Asia

Uzbekistan's economy relies mainly on commodity production, including cotton, gold, uranium, and natural gas. Despite the declared objective of transition to a market economy, Uzbekistan continues to maintain rigid economic controls, which often repel foreign investors. The policy of gradual, strictly controlled transition has nevertheless produced beneficial results in the form of economic recovery after 1995. Uzbekistan's domestic policies of human rights and individual freedoms are often criticized by international organizations.
Male homosexuality is illegal in Uzbekistan. Punishment ranges from a fine to 3 years in prison. An openly gay journalist, was found guilty of sodomy (August 2003) and sentenced to more than five years in prison in a closed trial that highlighted concerns about media freedoms and pressure against homosexuals. Uzbekistan's penal code, which dates back to the former Soviet Union and was enacted into law under Stalin, outlaws homosexual sex. The journalist's sentence was reduced to 2 years community service (600 km from the capital). After international protests, he was given asylum by the United States on October 21st 2004 and left Uzbekistan quickly.

 

 

Plea For LGBT Rights In Uzbekistan Provokes Police Raid, Online Backlash

    by RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service – Margot Buff Source – Radio Free Europe

Tashkent, Uzbekistan: Men of non-traditional orientation were detained.

Law enforcement officers detained two men from the area who were in sexual contact. They face up to 3 years of imprisonment. As the correspondent of UzNews.uz was informed in the department of internal affairs of the Yunusabad region, the men born in 1994 and 1988, met September 3 this year and began to live… Read more »

Secrets and Suspicion in Uzbekistan

Sept. 1 marked Uzbekistan’s 25th year of independence and the first national celebration of it without the president, Islam Karimov, in attendance. A few days earlier, the Uzbek government announced that Mr. Karimov, 78, had suffered a serious brain hemorrhage — an unusual proclamation considering pronouncements about his health were often as glowing as those… Read more »

In Uzbekistan, transgender man breaks barriers with transparent transition

Yan has a harrowing reminder of how haters in Uzbekistan treat transgender people. “There’s a scar left by a screwdriver next to my liver,” the craggy-bearded and long-haired transgender man says, describing how his college classmates attacked him in 1997 in Tashkent, the capital of this former Soviet republic, a mostly Muslim nation of 31… Read more »

May Day in Uzbekistan: Once a popular holiday

The older generation fondly remembers Soviet May Day celebrations and is upset that the holiday is no longer celebrated. “May Day or as it is also called the Day of International Solidarity of Workers used the be the most joyful holiday after New Year’s,” claims 53-year-old Tashkent resident Margarita. “There was music in the city… Read more »

Interview: Lack Of Data On Gay Men Impedes HIV Fight In Central Asia

In recent years, the countries of Central Asia have experienced some of the fastest growing rates of HIV infection in the world. One of the key populations at risk is men who have sex with men (MSM).owever, an acute lack of data on the health of that population — due in large part to intense… Read more »

Gay Uzbekistan News & Reports

Also see: More information about Islam & Homosexuality al-fatiha-news Queer Muslim magazines: Huriyah, Barra Gay Islam discussion groups: Muslim Gay Men     LGBT muslim Queer Jihad           Bi-muslims Trans-muslims       Lesbian muslims 1 Uzbek journalists face homosexuality charges 5/03 2 Uzbek journalist charged with sodomy demands new judge 8/03 3 Uzbek journalist pleads guilty to sodomy charges 8/03… Read more »