07 Nov 2008 | Foreign minister Maxime Verhagen today congratulated Uzbek human rights activist Mutabar Tadjibaeva on winning the 2008 Martin Ennals Award. Every year the prize is awarded in Geneva to a human rights defender by ten leading human rights organisations.

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‘It requires exceptional courage to stand up for human rights in Uzbekistan,’ Mr Verhagen said on meeting Ms Tadjibaeva in The Hague on 7 November. ‘You have dared to take up the challenge, despite the high personal price you have paid. Please know that the Netherlands stands by your side’. Ms Tadjibaeva will receive the prize in a ceremony on 20 November.

Mutabar Tadjibaeva campaigned on behalf of the victims of a violent attack by Uzbek security forces at a demonstration in the town of Andijan in May 2005. It is estimated that hundreds were killed in the attack. Ms Tadjibaeva’s human rights activities and criticisms of the government earned her an eight-year prison sentence. The Netherlands urged the Uzbek authorities repeatedly to release her, both directly and at EU level. In early June, Ms Tadjibaeva was released on parole.

The Netherlands remains critical of the human rights situation in Uzbekistan and is working to maintain the EU regime of sanctions that has been in place since the 2005 demonstration in Andijan was so brutally crushed. An arms embargo against the country is currently in force.