Islam Karimov
Islom Abdug‘aniyevich Karimov Ислам Абдуганиевич Каримов | |
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| 1st President of the Republic of Uzbekistan | |
| Assumed office 1991 | |
| Preceded by | None |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 30, 1938 Samarkand, Uzbek SSR, Soviet Union |
| Nationality | uzbek |
| Political party | Self-Sacrifice National Democratic Party |
| Spouse | Tatyana Akbarovna Karimova |
Islom Abdug‘aniyevich Karimov (Russian: Ислам Абдуганиевич Каримов Islam Abduganiyevich Karimov) (born in 30 January 1938 in Samarkand, Uzbek SSR, Soviet Union) has served as the President of Uzbekistan since 1991.
Background
Karimov is half-Uzbek, on his father's side, and half-Tajik on his mother's side, but he was raised in a Soviet state orphanage. After studying engineering and economics in Tashkent, he became an official in the Communist Party of the USSR.
He came to power as the party's First Secretary in Uzbekistan in 1989. On March 24, 1990 Karimov became President of the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic. He declared the independence of Uzbekistan on August 31, 1991 and won elections held on December 29 of that year with 86% of the vote. The elections were called unfair, with state-run propaganda and a falsified vote count, although the opposing candidate and leader of the Erk (Freedom) Party, Muhammad Salih, had a chance to participate. Shortly after the elections, a harsh political clampdown forced opposition leaders into exile, while many have been issued long-term prison sentences and a few have disappeared.
Referendums and elections
In 1995, Karimov extended his term until 2000 through a widely criticized referendum, and he was re-elected with 91.9% of the vote on January 9, 2000. The United States said that this election "was neither free nor fair and offered Uzbekistan's voters no true choice"[1]. The sole opposition candidate, Abdulhasiz Jalalov, admitted that he entered the race only to make it seem democratic and he voted for Karimov. On January 27, 2002, Karimov won another referendum extending the length of presidential terms from five to seven years; Karimov's present term, formerly due to end in 2005, was subsequently extended by parliament, which scheduled the next elections for December 2007.
Terrorism
Karimov has mobilized against the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan and Hizb-ut-Tahrir, designated Islamist terrorist organizations opposed to his government on religious and social grounds.[2]. The Uzbek government has sentenced Tohir Yuldeshev and Juma Namangani, leaders of the IMU, to death in absentia.[3] Namangani is known to have died in Afghanistan in 2001 but Yuldeshev may still be alive.[4]
After the September 11, 2001 attacks Uzbekistan was considered a strategic ally in the United States' "War on Terrorism" campaign because of a mutual opposition to the Taliban. Uzbekistan hosted an 800-strong U.S. troop presence at the Karshi-Khanabad base, also known as "K2", which supported U.S.-led efforts in the Afghanistan war.[5] This move was criticized by Human Rights Watch which said the U.S. government subordinated the promotion of human rights to assistance in the War in Afghanistan. U.S.-Uzbek relations deteriorated in May 2005 when the U.S. government criticized the Uzbek government's reaction to protests in Andijan. In July of 2005 U.S. military forces left Karshi-Khanabad.[6]
Criticism
The international community has repeatedly criticized the Karimov administration's record on human rights and press freedom. In particular, former British Ambassador in Uzbekistan Craig Murray pointed to reports of boiling people to death. The United Nations found torture "institutionalized, systematic, and rampant" in Uzbekistan's justice system.[7]
Personal life
Karimov is married; his wife, Tatyana Akbarovna Karimova, is an economist.[8] They have two daughters and three grandchildren. His elder daughter, Gulnara Karimova, serves as an advisor for Uzbekistan's ambassador to Russia and is believed to have built an extensive business empire that includes the largest wireless telephone operator in Uzbekistan, night clubs, and a large cement factory.[9]
Karimov appointed Ergash Shaismatov Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan.[10]
See also
References
- ^ US slams Uzbek election as unfree, unfair and laughable EurasiaNet
- ^ Bombings and Shootings Rock Uzbekistan Yale Global Online
- ^ Latest in a Series of Show Trials Condemns Peaceful Opposition Along with Militants Human Rights Watch
- ^ Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) CNS
- ^ Khanabad, Uzbekistan Karshi-Kanabad (K2) Airbase Camp Stronghold Freedom Global Security
- ^ US asked to leave Uzbek air base BBC News
- ^ Civil and political rights, including the questions of torture and detention United Nations Economic and Social Council
- ^ Biography Government of Uzbekistan
- ^ British "The Independent" interviews Gulnara Karimova Uzland
- ^ Ergash Shaismatov appointed Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Government of Uzbekistan
External links
- Muslim Uzbekistan Islamist website strongly critical of the Karimov regime
- Official biography
- Profile on Human Rights Watch site
- Profile on BBC News
- UN report on Uzbekistan, 2004
- Aftermath of the May 2005 Andijan massacre.
- Human Rights Watch information about Uzbekistan
- COMPLAINTS AIRED ABOUT US INTENTION TO CUT BACK VOA/RFERL BROADCASTING IN CENTRAL ASIA
 Uzbek SSR | |
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 Uzbekistan | |
* denotes acting | |