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U.S. Citizen Deported From Kyrgyzstan


U.S. citizen Umar Farooq, who was detained by Kyrgyz authorities last week, was deported from Kyrgyzstan.

Kyrgyz security officials detained Farooq on March 25 in the southern city of Osh after he had met with the local Bir Duyno (One World) human rights group to collect information about Osh residents accused of religious extremism.

The offices of Bir Duyno were searched last week and Farooq was accused of conducting journalist activities in Kyrgyzstan without proper accreditation.

On March 28, a court in Osh ruled that Farooq must be deported from the country. Farooq wrote on Twitter on March 29 that he had left Kyrgyzstan.

Meanwhile, Bir Duyno has complained about the State Committee for National Security illegally searching its offices and confiscating computers and other items last week.

Committee officials said March 30 that the searches were conducted legally and in connection with the investigation into Farooq's activities.

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