Tajikistan Trial For BBC Reporter Accused of Extremism
Posted by Info on 16/08/2011
A BBC journalist, Urunboy Usmonov, 59 who was held for a month by the authorities in Tajikistan has been put on trial in Khujand city. He was accused of associating with banned Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir. The trial is taking place in a detention centre rather than a regular courtroom.
He has repeatedly denied the charges, saying his only contact with the group was to interview some members as part of his work reporting on the region. The BBC has insisted that meetings and interviews with people representing all shades of opinion are part of the work of any BBC journalist.
Mr Usmonov has worked for the BBC Central Asian Service for 10 years. He has said that he met Hizb ut-Tahrir members as part of his work reporting on the group, which is active across Central Asia.
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