Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Alisher Kadyrov, leader of the Democratic Party of Uzbekistan “Milliy Tiklanish,” has called for introducing the death penalty for people convicted of especially serious crimes, including sexual violence against children.
The statement came after a high-profile case in Namangan Region, where a kindergarten employee is suspected of sexually abusing a five-year-old girl.
Kadyrov said that the existence of certain categories of offenders poses a threat to society and argued that lengthy imprisonment does not always guarantee their rehabilitation.
He also noted that returning such individuals to society could create a risk of them committing new serious crimes.
The party leader separately addressed the possible use of the death penalty for people who commit intentional killings, particularly when children are victims.
According to Kadyrov, some believe that life imprisonment is sufficient, while others view the death penalty as a measure to prevent further crimes and deter potential offenders.
Kadyrov said certain categories of crimes require a special approach, stressing that, in his view, it is unacceptable for people who have committed serious crimes against children to be able to return to society after serving their sentences.
Earlier, Saida Mirziyoyeva, head of the Presidential Administration, commenting on the incident in Namangan Region, called for the harshest possible punishment for those responsible.
She said that current legislation does not provide for the death penalty for such crimes and reported that proposals were being prepared to introduce relevant amendments and toughen liability to the maximum extent.
The death penalty was officially abolished in Uzbekistan from 1 January 2008. Life imprisonment was introduced instead as an exceptional form of punishment.
