ake Action
http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/campaign/Khasanov/i7db8w622jj67j3?
Dadakhan Khasanov, a popular singer and political dissident in
Uzbekistan, finds himself in a position he remembers well from
Soviet days. He is on trial for having written a song.
His song urges Uzbeks and the rest of the world not to forget
the May 13, 2005 massacre of hundreds of unarmed civilians by
Uzbek government forces in Andizhan. (For more about the
Andizhan massacre, visit:
http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/ct/7p2XHqn13qJy/).
Fans of Mr. Khasanov distributed the song through underground
channels, passing cassettes secretly from hand to hand out of
fear that they would be arrested, tortured, or killed, like
dozens of others who have spoken out about Andizhan. But when a
policeman heard the song on a bus, news traveled quickly back to
headquarters, and Mr. Khasanov was arrested. The accusations
against him include insulting the president, undermining the
constitution, and disseminating illegal information.
On Monday, July 31, the first day of his trial, the courtroom
was packed with observers - including embassy representatives.
The judge adjourned the trial until this Friday stating that a
decision had to be made as to whether or not to allow such
scrutiny.
Please join us in letting the Uzbek government know that we too
are watching and hope that Mr. Khasanov is no longer persecuted
for his songs.
Click Here to Take Action:
http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/campaign/Khasanov/i7db8w622jj67j3?
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Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this
important case.
http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/join-forward.html?domain=human_rights_first&r=sp2XHqn15BM8
Don't say you haven't heard,
You well-dressed princesses.
Hey, you deaf and blind ones -
There was a massacre in Andizhan.
On the president's orders,
With Kalashnikov bullets
The people were shot at by his servants.
There was a massacre in Andizhan.
The Padishah [Shah] did not listen to the people,
He did not hear their cries of suffering,
He has not chosen the path of justice.
There was a massacre in Andizhan.
He let the armoured vehicles open crackling fire,
Killing young and old,
Shooting, shooting, shooting terribly.
There was a massacre in Andizhan.
Shooting, cutting people to ribbons,
Hunting them down in the streets,
Like dogs biting their prey.
There was a massacre in Andizhan.
Children died on the streets,
Bright red like tulips,
Shattered mothers were weeping,
There was a massacre in Andizhan.
He destroyed a local community,
Shaken like fruit from a mulberry tree,
Both men and women.
There was a massacre in Andizhan.
Women with babes in arms,
Pregnant women too,
Died begging for mercy.
There was a massacre in Andizhan.
The whole world found out
about this massacre,
Everyone was filled with anger.
There was a massacre in Andizhan.
Fatherless sons
born in the street -
That's who did the shooting.
There was a massacre in Andizhan.
The bastards who fired the shots
Are the kind who sleep with their mothers,
And are mired in their own excrement.
There was a massacre in Andizhan
We tested our ruthless leader,
And found him a terrorist.
We were filled with hatred and sorrow.
There was a massacre in Andizhan.
Uzbeks will not awaken,
Sunk in their fear,
Dictators will continue to shoot.
There was a massacre in Andizhan.
Don't say you haven't heard,
You well-dressed princesses.
Hey, you deaf and blind ones -
There was a massacre in Andizhan.