Defense motions rejected at third hearing in Mubashshir Ahmad case, trial draws large public attendance

The hearing, held on 15 September at Uchtepa District Criminal Court of Tashkent, lasted nearly two hours and was attended by hundreds of citizens.

The case is being heard under Judge Bobur Rahimov, with Erkin Narzullaev, deputy prosecutor of Uchtepa district, representing the prosecution, and a team of defense lawyers led by Abdulloh Sodiq.

At the third session, the defense filed a motion to question Gayrathodja Saydaliev, who had earlier been interrogated as a witness during the investigation. Since the witness had already testified at previous sessions, the request was denied. The lawyer also asked to question Nurimon Abulhasan, former chairman of the Committee on Religious Affairs, as an additional expert due to dissatisfaction with the earlier expert’s opinion. This request was also rejected by the judge.

During the hearing, Alisher Tursunov testified, stating that while working in Turkey he did not consider it necessary to obtain authorization from the Committee on Religious Affairs for his published materials. He also provided explanations and objections regarding other charges against him.

Mubashshir Ahmad emphasized that his health condition – including blood pressure and blood sugar levels – is normal.

At the end of the session, the judge announced a recess for deliberations. The next hearing was scheduled for 18 September at 17:30.

Alisher Tursunov faces charges under three articles of the Criminal Code:

• Article 244-3: Illegal preparation, storage, import or distribution of materials of religious content
• Article 244-1: Preparation, storage, distribution or display of materials threatening public security and public order
• Article 156: Incitement of national, racial, ethnic or religious hatred

At the second hearing, experts who had evaluated materials posted by Tursunov on his social media accounts testified at the request of the investigative body. Odil Musaev, professor of political science at Renaissance University, provided a political assessment of the materials, while Shahboz Nizomov, a specialist from the Religious Studies Expertise Department of the Committee on Religious Affairs, gave a religious evaluation.

At the first hearing, the judge granted the prosecutor’s motion to ban audio, photo, and video recording. However, the trial remains open, allowing participation by media and members of the public.