Moʻtabar Tojiboyeva facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Moʻtabar Tojiboyeva Мўтабар Тожибоева
Tojiboyeva in 2009
Born	Moʻtabar Tojiboyeva Ibragimovna (1962-08-25) August 25, 1962 (age 63) Margilan, Fergana, USSR, USSR
Occupation	Journalist
Nationality	Uzbek
Subject	Human rights defender
Notable awards	Martin Ennals Award 2008, U.S. State Department "Women of Courage" 2009

Moʻtabar Tojiboyeva (born August 25, 1962) is a brave journalist and human rights activist from Uzbekistan. A human rights activist is someone who works to make sure everyone's rights are protected and respected. She founded a group called the "Fiery Hearts Club" to help people and report on human rights in her country.

She often acted as a helper and representative for people in court cases. Because she spoke out, she faced many challenges. In 2005, she was arrested just before she was supposed to travel to a human rights conference in Ireland. She was put in prison for speaking up about the government's actions during a peaceful protest in the city of Andijan.

Even while she was in prison, her work was recognized around the world. In 2005, an organization connected to the Nobel Peace Prize named her one of 1,000 important women working for peace. She has received many awards for her courage, including the Martin Ennals Award in 2008 and the International Women of Courage Award from the United States in 2009.

After being released from prison in 2008, she continued her work. She wrote a book about her experiences to show the world what was happening in Uzbekistan. Today, she lives in France, where she continues to lead the "Fiery Hearts Club" and fight for human rights.

Early Life and Education

Moʻtabar Tojiboyeva was born on August 25, 1962, in Margilan, a city in Uzbekistan, which was then part of the Soviet Union. Her family's history inspired her to fight for justice. Her grandfather was once unfairly treated by the government, which had a big impact on her as she grew up.

She went to school in Margilan and later studied economics. She also took courses in journalism, which prepared her for her future career as a reporter who would tell important stories.

Career Beginnings

Tojiboyeva started her career working in different jobs. She worked in a factory, a government office, and later in banking. In 1985, she began working for the Public Control Committee. Her job was to help make sure that laws were being followed and people's rights were protected.

This job showed her how important it is for citizens to have a voice. She started writing articles for newspapers, pointing out when officials were not being fair to ordinary people. This was the beginning of her journey as a human rights activist.

The Fiery Hearts Club

In 1999, Tojiboyeva tried to get elected to a local government council. She wanted to create laws that would allow citizens to check on the government's actions. Although she didn't win the election, she didn't give up.

In 2000, she founded the "Fiery Hearts Club." The group worked to solve problems in the community, like crime. The club became very popular, and its work was praised for making the community safer. Through the club, Tojiboyeva and its members helped many people and spoke out against injustice.

Facing Challenges

Because Tojiboyeva and the "Fiery Hearts Club" were not afraid to criticize the government, they faced serious problems. In 2002, she was investigating the case of a man named Alimuhammad Mamadaliev, who had died after being arrested. Because she was trying to find out the truth, she was arrested by the police and treated very harshly.

The government tried to stop her work many times. They threatened to shut down the "Fiery Hearts Club" and warned her to stop organizing protests. In December 2002, police and soldiers surrounded a village where she was hiding, trying to find her. She had to disguise herself to escape and protect her family.

In 2003, she was in a serious car accident shortly after receiving a threatening phone call. She believed the accident was not a coincidence. The official records of her injuries from the crash later disappeared in a mysterious fire.

The Andijan Events and Arrest

In 2005, a large protest took place in the city of Andijan. The government responded with force, and many people were hurt. Tojiboyeva tried to warn the president of Uzbekistan about the growing problems before the protest happened.

During the Andijan events, she was placed under house arrest, with police guarding her home. Even so, she managed to connect people at the protest with international journalists so the world could know what was happening.

A few days later, she was taken from her home and held by the police for several days. On October 7, 2005, she was officially arrested and accused of breaking several laws. The real reason for her arrest was her work as a human rights activist. She spent four months in detention, where she was questioned many times before being sent to prison.

International Recognition and Freedom

Despite being in prison, the world did not forget about Moʻtabar Tojiboyeva.

• 2005: Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize as part of the "1000 women peace activists" group.
• 2008: While still in prison, she won the Martin Ennals Award, a major prize for human rights defenders.
• 2008: Her organization, the "Fiery Hearts Club," received a special award from the French government for promoting liberty and equality.
• 2009: She received the International Women of Courage Award from the U.S. State Department.

Tojiboyeva was released from prison on July 2, 2008. She traveled to Geneva, Switzerland, to accept the Martin Ennals Award in person. She later wrote a book titled Prisoner of ... Island, sharing her story with the world.

Today, she is recognized as one of the most influential women in Central Asia. She lives in France as a political refugee, which means she had to leave her home country for her safety. She continues to lead the "Fiery Hearts Club" from Paris, fighting for a better future for the people of Uzbekistan.