Support Ogulsapar Muradova

Turkmenistan - Woman Journalist Ogulsapar Muradova was murdered violently in prison 14 september 2006







To: all progressive organizations, all defenders of women's rights, all protectors of human rights, all freedom seekers and all progressive individuals







Petition to Support



Ogulsapar Muradova







The courage of a 58-years old woman, who even under torture refused to make a false confession and managed to preserve her dignity as well as firm conviction of her innocence, arose great admiration and respect for her.



Ogulsapar Muradowa, a freelance reporter to Radio Liberty, has been accused by the Turkmen authorities of espionage and convicted for six years in prison in August 2006.



On August 25, Muradova was sentenced to six years in prison for illegal possession of weapons in a closed trial that fell far short of international standards.A 10-minutes trial after which she is sentenced to six years in prison. This needs to be condemned by the international community, of how she was treated at her trial.



Mrs. Muradova was a brave journalist who dared to expose government abuses even while living in one of the most oppressive countries. The charges for which she was recently sentenced to six years in prison were highly suspect, and we call on the Government of Turkmenistan to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation of her death.



Ogulsapar Muradova was affiliated with the Turkmenistan Helsinki Foundation, a non-governmental organization that monitors human rights in Turkmenistan. She has served as a journalist for Radio Liberty, a private communications service funded by the Congress through the Broadcasting Board of Governors.



This murder is a result of the feeling of impurity in (Turkmen president) Niyazov and his clique.Turkmenistan operates one of the most repressive regimes in the world. The president of the country (Saparmurat Niyazov) operates a cult of personality, and this has got to stop. If Turkmenistan is to join with the community of nations around the world, it needs to maintain human rights and an open society and move forward with the rest of the world -- instead of this repressive nature of an old Soviet-style regime.



Muradovas three children are currently cut off from the outside world, as both their fixed-line and mobile telephones and those of their friends have been disconnected. Their home is under active surveillance by the security services and it is virtually impossible for them to move about. They have been fired from their jobs and have no funds.



We fear that Muradovas children could suffer the same fate as she did, or could be deported to a location that is unknown to anyone but the police. We call on the international community to put pressure on the Turkmen government.



We call on all progressive organizations, all defenders of women's rights, all protectors of human rights, all freedom seekers and all progressive individuals to condemn this vicious attack by the Turkmenistan government against Ogulsapar Muradova, who was a human rights activist, and a persistent and courageous fighter.