Imprisoned Uzbek Woman Wins Rights Award

Mutabar Tadjibaeva

An Uzbek woman imprisoned for criticizing Uzbekistan's government over its armed response to a protest in the town of Andijon three years ago has won a prestigious international human rights award.

Reuters quotes organizers as saying Mutabar Tadjibaeva, laureate of the 2008 Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders, is in declining health. They are demanding her immediate release.

The annual award is named after British lawyer Martin Ennals, who was the first secretary-general of Amnesty International.

Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the International Commission of Jurists are among groups comprising the jury.