Law enforcement authorities in Karshi city detained human rights activist Gulshan Karayeva and her 100-year-old grandmother on October 13, 2012.

Relatives of the detained human rights activist contacted Mutabar Tajibaeva, head of “Fiery Hearts Club”, via telephone and told about the incident that happened at about 9:00 am.

According to family members, Gulshan Karaeva and her 100-year-old grandmother Bibisuluv Alimardonova were detained at 9:00 am on October 13 by a group of policemen, who stopped a taxi they were in together with rights activist Nadir Akhatov.

“The police, who stopped the car, sent Nodir Akhatov back to his home. Gulshan and her grandmother were taken to an unknown destination. Nadir Akhatov informed us about it,” said activist’s relatives to Mutabar Tadjibaeva during the phone conversation.

Later that day, the family learned that Gulshan Karaeva and Bibisuluv Alimardonova were kept in the building of the police department of Karshi city.

“Gulshan managed to make a secret call via cell phone to her relatives and tell that they were kept in the police department of the city. And then a relative on the phone heard that an unknown man on the other side of the line ordered Gulshan to give him the mobile phone. Then the connection was lost. After that relatives could not reach the rights activist via her phone,” said Tajibayeva to Jarayon.

On the same day, at 01 pm Tashkent time, the head of the “Fiery Hearts Club” called the police department of Karshi city. But the duty office, who she talked to, said that Karayeva and her grandmother were not brought to the department. Tajibayeva called the Karshi police again in two hours – at 3:20 pm.

“The duty officer again repeated that persons named Gulshan Karaeva and her grandmother were not registered at the department,” said Tadjibaeva.

Earlier, several media outlets reported that Bibisuluv Alimardonova, 100-year-old grandmother of human rights activist Gulshan Karaeva, has informed the National Security Service about her plan to stage a demonstration in defense of her children. The demonstration was to be held in front of the building of the Kashkadarya regional administration.

An elderly woman said that her grandchildren Gulshan Karayeva and Sanjar Karayev were unfairly subjected to persecution and pressure from law enforcement.

Police is accusing Sanjar of causing physical injury, and his sister, Gulshan, of insulting and slandering the neighbors.

It must be noted that Gulshan Karayeva, head of the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan (HRSU) in Kashkadarya, has long been subject to pressure from local authorities. The rights activist was attacked, threatened and intimidated. This spring, the unknown people wrote offensive words on the gates of her house.

International human rights organization Human Rights Watch has expressed concerns about Karaeva’s situation and called on the Uzbek authorities to ensure her safety. Observers believe that the latest case with Gulshan Karaeva has political overtones, and can be considered as an attempt to silence her activities directed against the dictatorial regime in Uzbekistan.