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A man detained on suspicion of affiliation with a banned religious organization died in police custody in Uzbekistan, Human Rights Watch said today.

Ravshan Haidov, age 32, died in police custody this week. Haidov, the father of two, is the latest victim in Uzbekistan's vicious crackdown on Muslims who practice their faith outside state controls.

Human Rights Watch learned from informed sources that on October 17, Tashkent police arrested Ravshan Haidov and his younger brother, Rasul Haidov, 25. Police reportedly took the brothers to the Sobir Rahimov district police station for interrogation on suspicion of affiliation with the banned Islamic group, Hizb ut-Tahrir (Party of Liberation).

Ravshan Haidov's body was returned to his family on October 18. Those who viewed the body reported that Haidov's neck was broken, as was one leg, below the knee, that his upper back was injured, and that his body was covered with bruises. The official cause of death was given as a heart attack.

"This death follows a distinct pattern in Uzbekistan of police torture of religious detainees and dissidents," said Elizabeth Andersen, executive director of the Europe and Central Asia Division of Human Rights Watch.

Ravshan Haidov's brother, Rasul, is reportedly being hospitalized, under police guard, following his interrogation.

Local rights activists estimate that at least 7,000 independent Muslims are now imprisoned in Uzbekistan for their religious practices or affiliations, and that some 4,000 of these were convicted for affiliation with Hizb ut-Tahrir. The government has justified their arrests by claiming they support terrorism, though the vast majority are not charged for acts of violence.

Uzbekistan is emerging as one of the strongest regional supporters of the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan, in response to the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington. More than 1,000 U.S. troops are already stationed in Uzbekistan and last Friday the two countries announced the formation of a "qualitatively new relationship."

The Chairman-in-Office of the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe is scheduled to meet with Uzbek President Islam Karimov on October 22.

"It's never been more important to urge the Uzbek government to clean up its act," said Andersen. "Otherwise the U.S. and its allies could be seen as aligning itself with a government that tortures non-violent Muslims to death in the name of fighting terrorism."

At least fifteen people have died in Uzbek custody due to torture in the past three years. In July 2001, human rights defender Shovrik Ruzimuradov also died in police custody under highly suspicious circumstances, suggesting he also was the victim of torture. The official explanation for Ruzimuradov's death was suicide by hanging.

The Tashkent city prosecutor's office reportedly opened a criminal case against four police officers from the Sobir Rahimov district police station in relation to Ravshan Haidov's death.

"We urge the Uzbek government to live up to its obligation to hold torturers accountable by prosecuting these men in accordance with the law," said Andersen.

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