[JURIST] Persons suspected of involvement in the 2005 Andijan uprising [JURIST news archive] that resulted in a massacre of unarmed civilians [JURIST report] are still being mistreated according to a new Human Rights Watch report [PDF text] released Monday. Uzbek President Islam Karimov [official profile; BBC profile] has been criticized for his treatment of anti-government elements since the 2005 crackdown. The physical abuse and social stigma extend to participants' families, as well. AP has more.

In May 2005, thousands of Uzbek demonstrators protesting the trial of 23 businessmen on religious extremism charges stormed an Andijan prison [JURIST report], allowing about 2,000 inmates including the businessmen to escape. In response, government troops killed as many as 500 demonstrators [JURIST report].