Uzbekistan: Journalist Gulnoza Said Denied Entry To Homeland, Forced To Return To US
Location: Uzbekistan, TashkentDate: August 31, 2022
Journalist Gulnoza Said was arbitrarily denied entry to Uzbekistan and forced by immigration authorities to return to US, while she was collecting her son from family vacation in her homeland. Uzbekistani authorities didn’t give a reason for her initial refusal, later they stated that the immigration system showed she was not allowed to enter the country, allegedly due to her work.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the Uzbekistan authorities’ decision not to let Gulnoza enter the country while her personal life has been affected due to journalistic work. We believe that the state persecution against Gulnoza is unjustified. CFWIJ calls on the authorities to lift the ban and immediately address the issue.
Gulmnoza was held at Tashkent airport on August 30. for several hours waiting for her clearance, as immigration officials seized her passport. Gulnoza planned to visit her family and collect her 15 years old son before returning together to US, where they both are US citizens. Gulmoza claimed she was not traveling to Uzbekistan for work related, but visiting her family. She was stopped at the airport and not allowed to leave until the next flight to New York scheduled on September 1st. Her denial to enter the country is intended to intimidate her for her reporting work outside the country.
Gulnoza is the program coordinator for Europe and Central Asia at Committee to Protect Journalism (CPJ), a veteran journalist and communication expert originally from Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
She has been critical to press freedom in Russia and the whole region, reiterating that independent Russia journalism is dead and has impacted audiences beyond Russia and central Asia, leading to the division of society, even families, while some support Russian media outlets and source of information, some support Ukraine and foreign media outlets.
Uzbekistan has a worrying history of targeting journalists. In July Journalist Lolagul Kallyhanova was held incommunicado after covering protests. In December blogger Fatima Jurayeva was beaten while investigating the state electricity company. In November last year Polish journalist Agnieszka Pikulicka was denied entry to the country.
Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns Uzbeki authorities for denying entry to her country and visiting her family, depriving from her private life due to work related issues. CFWIJ supports journalist Gulnoza Said for her meaningful work and the unprecedented challenge she has faced following Russia’s February 24 assault on Ukraine and her reporting work in the region.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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