On 6 March 2006 human rights defender Mutabar Tadzhibaeva, Chairwoman of the human rights organization Fiery Hearts Club, was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment. She faced 13 economic and political charges, including “membership of an illegal organization” and “using funds from Western governments to prepare or distribute materials containing a threat to public order and security”. She denied all charges against her. Amnesty International considers Mutabar Tadzhibaeva to be a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for carrying out her human rights work, and calls for her immediate and unconditional release
