UN human rights official deplores executions in Uzbekistan

Deploring the reported execution in Uzbekistan of people allegedly tortured into confessing and the government's disregard of United Nations pleas for a stay, a senior UN human rights official today called on the Central Asian country to set a moratorium on the death penalty and urgently consider abolishing it.

The Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on torture, Theo van Boven, said he "deeply regrets that he continues to receive information" of such executions and noted that at least nine death row prisoners had been executed since late 2002 despite requests by the UN Human Rights Committee for a stay pending its consideration of the cases.

Most recently, Azizbek Karimov and Yusuf Zhumayev were reportedly executed on 10 August, despite interventions by the Committee, Mr. van Boven added.

He appealed to the Government to ensure strict observance of its international human rights obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and to cooperate fully with the Special Procedures of the Commission on Human Rights.