Gulbahor released after detention in Türkiye (video)

Earlier, it was reported that Uzbek citizen Gulbahor Jumaniyozova had been detained by Istanbul police after appearing on Türkiye’s ATV television channel.

According to reports, Jumaniyozova was held for some time at Bakırköy Women’s Closed Prison in Türkiye. With the assistance of the Uzbek side, including the Society for the Protection of the Rights of Uzbek Women and the Consulate General of Uzbekistan in Istanbul, Gulbahor was released yesterday, May 20. Jumaniyozova expressed gratitude to the Uzbek people and the government of Uzbekistan for supporting her.

“I went through very difficult days. At that moment, I felt as if I had no one and was a stranger. I appeared on the program because I trusted myself. I had not taken anyone’s money unfairly. I had evidence, but during the broadcast I was made to look like a liar. My phone was also taken away during the program. After the show, the Ministry of Justice took me directly to court, and from court I was taken to prison. I was very frightened,” Gulbahor said.

Jumaniyozova said she managed to contact the society’s chairwoman, Ozoda Islomova, at the last moment, after which the Uzbek government protected its citizen even while she was in prison. She also said she was pleased to have been released as a result of the government’s active efforts.

“Thank you to my homeland. They came to the prison for me and checked on me. They hired lawyers, paid the money and helped clear my name. When I saw that my homeland was standing behind me, I cried from happiness. Thank God, now I want to return to Uzbekistan,” she said.

The dispute began after a Turkish man claimed that Gulbahor Jumaniyozova had defrauded him of $20,000. However, Jumaniyozova denied the allegation and said she had not taken that amount of money from him.