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Panel urges independent probe into "Bloody July" and release of Karakalpak political prisoners
Summary
A human-rights defender told the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission briefing that protests known as "Bloody July" resulted in killings and prolonged repression in Karakalpakstan and called on Congress and the administration to demand independent investigations and the release of prisoners held for peaceful dissent.
A human-rights defender told a House briefing that the violent crackdown known as "Bloody July" was the culmination of decades of political marginalization in Karakalpakstan and that peaceful protesters were met with lethal force. "They were defending rights already guaranteed to them by law," the defender said, describing mass arrests and restricted access that have prevented independent verification of casualties.
The witness named Dalet Murat Hashimurag as one prominent detainee, saying he was arrested, allegedly assaulted and later sentenced to 16 years in prison. The witness added that "the United Nations working group on arbitrary detention determined that his imprisonment was arbitrary and called for his immediate release." Panelists said the absence of a transparent international investigation has left the true scope of deaths, injuries and detentions unknown, and urged U.S. officials to press for access and accountability.
The defender laid out specific requests to U.S. policymakers: publicly call for immediate and unconditional releases of political prisoners, demand transparent independent investigations into deadly reprisals, review and overturn convictions based solely on peaceful speech or journalism, and condition expanded cooperation with regional governments on measurable human-rights benchmarks. Todd Stein, the commission staff director, said the presentations will be part of the record and encouraged follow-up outside the briefing room.
