Mubashir Ahmed was deported from Turkey and arrested

The Uzbek Interior Ministry has confirmed that religious scholar Alisher Tursunov, also known by the pseudonym Mubashshir Akhmad, has been deported to Uzbekistan and arrested.

According to the Interior Ministry, the wanted 51-year-old Alisher Tursunov was detained in Turkey on May 8 and deported to Uzbekistan on May 10.

“Due to the fact that the information distributed on social networks through information platforms founded by A. Tursunov, according to the relevant expert opinions, contained information contrary to the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan, a criminal case was initiated against him under Article 244, Part 1 (Preparation, storage, distribution or display of materials that threaten public safety and public order) and Article 244, Part 3 (Illegal preparation, storage, import or distribution of materials of religious content) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and a preventive measure of arrest was applied.

Currently, appropriate investigative actions are being conducted within the framework of the criminal case,” the ministry said in a statement.

A religious scholar who is active in the Uzbek segment of social networks is the author of educational projects such as Azon.uz and Azon TV, which have been operating in Uzbekistan for several years, as well as several religious books.

Mubashshir Ahmad had been living in Turkey for several years. He was taken from his home by Turkish police in late 2023 on suspicion of posing a threat to public security, held in a deportation center for 55 days, and released in February 2024 due to lack of evidence.

It became known in February of this year that a criminal case had been opened against him in Uzbekistan.

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