Letter from Javhar Yusufjon Oghlu, the 10-year-old son of a father who is a poet, Nobel Prize nominee, and jailed in Uzbekistan.

Dear America,

I am 10 years old but I know that there are bad people who are hurting, beating, trying to kill, and putting my daddy in jail. When I miss my daddy so much, I start to cry, and my mom tells me not to worry, he will be back and that everything will be good because those who fight for the truth are protected by America. In fact several times, after involving America, my daddy returned home and told me that America is behind him. Thank you America. I always imagine that America is the protector of all the truth tellers.

In December 2007, our family began peacefully protesting against President Islom Karimov’s third term in presidency, demanding his resignation. First, they jailed my brother Mashrab, who is 22 years old and handicapped, and afterwards armed people attacked our home and I saw bullets fly over our heads. Fortunately, we were not hurt but they arrested my dad and my second brother Bobur. My mom again told me “don’t worry there is America and your dad and brothers will come back home.” But, already 5 months have passed and they haven’t come back home. Everyday my mom cries reading the news about how they are torturing my daddy and my brothers and that they are sick in prison. Every night in my dreams, bad people are beating my daddy and my brothers and I am staying beside them frightened telling them “don’t be scared, America is coming to save you.”

Dear America, before when my dad was in jail you saved him. He is a very famous poet he is not a criminal and people like him. Please save my daddy again. My brothers are in prison because they are the sons of a poet; they have done nothing wrong.

Now, I am living far away from Uzbekistan with my mom in exile and searching for an answer from America in hopes. Dear America please answer my call.

My mom told me that June 1st is World’s Children’s Day and my dad will come back on this day. Please help safely deliver my present. Thank you.

Javhar Yusufjon Oghlu.
5-19-2008.