Human rights in Turkmenistan

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Turkmenistan
This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Turkmenistan

President Saparmurat Niyazov Assembly People's Council Political parties Democratic Party of Turkmenistan Elections Provinces Human rights Foreign relations Ruhnama
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The human rights situation in Turkmenistan, an authoritarian state, remains extremely poor. No political opposition to the ruling regime is allowed, while all religious activity remains tightly restricted or banned. There is no free press. Standards in education and health have declined markedly in recent years.

1 Freedom of religion
2 Freedom of expression
3 Political freedom
4 Police brutality
5 Women's rights
6 Eccentric bans
7 References
8 External links

[edit] Freedom of religion

Freedom of religion practically does not exist, in common with other human rights. President Saparmurat Niyazov's book of spiritual writings, the Ruhnama, is imposed on all religious communities. According to Forum 18, despite international pressure, the authorities severely repress all religious groups, and the legal framework is so constrictive that many prefer to exist underground rather than have to pass through all of the official hurdles. Protestant Christian adherents are affected, in addition to groups such as Jehovah's Witnesses and Hare Krishna. [1] Jehovah's Witnesses have been imprisoned and suffered beatings due to being conscientious objectors.

The U.S. Department of State’s 2005 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom (released November 8, 2005) indicates persistent restrictions on religious freedoms in Turkmenistan, while categorizing it among countries that had made "significant improvements in the promotion of religious freedom." Representative Chris Smith stated, however, "The reforms that were instituted by the Niyazov regime over the past year did not go far enough, and even the report itself states that serious violations of religious freedom continue." Senator Sam Brownback noted, "Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have clearly received more credit than the facts would warrant." The U.N. Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Asma Jahangir, appealed to the government of Turkmenistan in June 2003 and again in 2005 for an invitation to visit the country, but has received no response. [2]

[edit] Freedom of expression

According to Reporters Without Borders' 2005 World Press Freedom Index, Turkmenistan had the 2nd worst press freedom conditions in the world, behind North Korea. It is considered to be one of the "10 Most Censored Countries". Each broadcast begins with a pledge that the broadcaster's tongue will shrivel if he slanders the country, flag, or president. [3]. Niyazov controls all Turkmen media outlets and personally appoints journalists.

[edit] Political freedom

Any opposition to the government is considered treason and punishable by life imprisonment. Turkmenistan has several political prisoners, including Batyr Berdiev, Yazgeldy Gundogdiyev, Boris Shikhmuradov, and Mukhametkuli Aimuradov. They are not granted any access by the International Red Cross, OSCE, ar any medical institutions. There are several rumours of their deaths, but these cannot be confirmed.

[edit] Police brutality

Arbitrary arrests and mistreatment of detained persons is a problem in Turkmenistan, including torture to obtain confessions. In 2004, border guards shot and killed six people who were allegedly illegally crossing the border from Iran. There are reports of prisoners dying after having food and medical care withheld^[1]. Ogulsapar Muradova, a journalist and human rights activist, died violently in prison in September 2006.

[edit] Women's rights

Under the law of Turkmenistan, domestic violence and prostitution is illegal, but there is little done to enforce it. However, laws prohibiting rape and guaranteeing women the same marriage and inheritance rights as men are generally respected.

[edit] Eccentric bans

President Saparmurat Niyazov, also known as Turkmenbashi (father of the ethnic Turkmen), has imposed many bizarre bans upon his country. Playing video games, listening to car radios, performing opera and ballet, smoking in public, and even growing facial hair have all been banned from Turkmenistan by Niyazov's decrees. It has been speculated that the latter ban was enacted to enforce conformity of appearance^[2], or even to compensate for Turkmenbashi's inability to grow a beard. Turkmenbashi has ordered the closure of all libraries outside the capital of Ashgabat in the belief that all Turkmen are illiterate^[3]. He reportedly has also closed many hospitals outside of the capital, forced physicians to swear an oath to himself and the Ruhnama instead of the Hippocratic Oath^[4], and cut pensions to a third of the country's elderly population ^[5]