ALMATY, Sept 27 (Reuters) - The first prominent dissident to return to Uzbekistan since the death of its long-time leader was detained on arrival on Wednesday, putting under scrutiny efforts by its new president to show the country in a more liberal light. His wife, Gulnara Otakhonova, said by telephone that she and their son had waited for several hours at the airport before seeing Raufkhon escorted outside in handcuffs, to be taken to a police station. In the evening, police told her they were taking Raufkhon to jail and instructed her to bring clothes for him, still without stating any charges, Otakhonova said. The government of President Islam Karimov should report back within a year on its progress in wiping out “widespread torture” and arbitrary imprisonment of human rights defenders and journalists imprisoned in retaliation for their work, it said. Karimov, held responsible by Western governments for systematic human rights violations during his 25 years in power, died last September. His successor, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, has sought to present himself as a more liberal leader, and this month Raufkhon told Reuters in an interview that, despite harbouring some misgivings, he would soon return home. Karimov was derided by Western governments as a dictator who violated human rights, but for many people in Uzbekistan, a mainly Muslim ex-Soviet state which borders Afghanistan, he is the only head of state they have ever known.
Uzbekistan dissident writer Nurulloh Muhammad Raufkhon is arrested on his return to the Central Asian country from exile.