President Saparmurat Niazov of Turkmenistan should mark his birthday by committing himself to protect human rights, a coalition of human rights groups said yesterday. President Niazov's birthday, February 19, is a major event in Turkmenistan.
Turkmenistan has long had an appalling human rights record. An armed attack on President Niazov last November triggered a new wave of repression throughout the country.
Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, the International League for Human Rights and Memorial Human Rights Center yesterday called on President Niazov to release those arbitrarily or unlawfully detained, permit visits to those imprisoned, grant human rights monitors access to Turkmenistan and ensure fair and public retrials for those convicted at unfair trials in relation to the November attack.
A series of actions is planned for President Niazov's birthday. Amnesty International is coordinating a birthday card web action and demonstrations at Turkmen embassies.
Turkmenistan has long had an appalling human rights record. An armed attack on President Niazov last November triggered a new wave of repression throughout the country.
Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, the International League for Human Rights and Memorial Human Rights Center yesterday called on President Niazov to release those arbitrarily or unlawfully detained, permit visits to those imprisoned, grant human rights monitors access to Turkmenistan and ensure fair and public retrials for those convicted at unfair trials in relation to the November attack.
A series of actions is planned for President Niazov's birthday. Amnesty International is coordinating a birthday card web action and demonstrations at Turkmen embassies.