“Peace be upon everyone present in this courtroom.”
“I, Mubashshir Ahmad, have been under investigation and trial for the past five months on charges under three articles of the Criminal Code.
Although my lawyers requested the court to dismiss the charge of distributing religious materials without the approval of the Religious Affairs Committee, I admit that I did share such materials. At that time, I was in Turkey and did not know I needed permission from the committee in Uzbekistan, nor did I have the physical means to obtain it.
As for the other two charges – distributing materials that threaten public order and inciting ethnic hatred – I stated during the investigation that I was not guilty. We have also seen throughout the court proceedings that these accusations were not proven. Even now, I do not agree with them.
Let me share a few reflections.
In our religion and in life, one’s intention and purpose are of utmost importance in any action. For instance, if a person works to earn money to support their family, they receive blessings for that.
Similarly, in human relations, everything depends on intentions. In all my writings and articles, my intention has always been sincere – to bring goodness to people.
In particular, the material I was accused of distributing – concerning Israel’s genocide in Gaza – was meant to help people, especially young people, understand the situation and prevent them from being misled or drawn away.
There is also a reason why I reject the accusation of inciting ethnic hatred. I have always called for interethnic harmony. Not to boast, but to remind the court of my intentions and actions, I would like to mention two significant examples.
The first was several years ago, during the protests in Nukus known as the “Karakalpak events.” At the request of the Presidential Administration of Uzbekistan, I publicly appealed for peace and unity between the two peoples and called for an end to conflicts and provocations.
The second instance was in 2019, when a woman who then served as deputy director of the Press and Information Agency posted something on social media that was perceived as an insult to our Prophet (peace be upon him). This sparked intense public outrage and threats against her. At the request of the Presidential Administration, I invited her to our Azon.uz studio, spoke with her, clarified the situation, and explained her intentions. That was a difficult moment, but we took responsibility and helped prevent further turmoil.
