To discuss human rights in Central Asia without resorting to stereotype is a difficult prospect. The area's strategic value is unquestioned. Energy rich, at the nexus of Russia, China, Iran, and Pakistan, quite literally the heartland of the continent, Central Asia remains vitally important to every great power on the planet. That very importance has led some to turn the region's human rights record into a vehicle for promoting their own interests -- distorting reality in the process. While it would be impossible for any Western country to approach Central Asia without taking heed of its many human rights issues, the human rights picture varies from country to country. Uzbekistan Most discussions of human rights in the region begin with Uzbekistan, for good reason. It is one of the worst human rights offenders on the planet. Torture is systemic, there is widespread harassment and persecution of minority groups, and corruption is rampant. In its Freedom in the World index, Freedom House ranks the country near Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe -- higher than North Korea, but not by much.
Human Rights in Central Asia
