Journalist Anora Sodiqova wins appeal against “Mufasa” after court initially rejected her defamation case

The Tashkent City Civil Court has overturned an earlier ruling and partially satisfied journalist Anora Sodiqova’s lawsuit against blogger Mirsaid Haydarov, known online as “Mufasa.” According to human rights activist Abdurakhmon Tashanov, the court has ordered Haydarov to pay Sodiqova UZS 25 million in moral damages and an additional UZS 5 million in other losses. He must also issue a public apology and delete the defamatory posts from his social media accounts.

This new decision reverses a controversial ruling made by the Shaykhantakhur Interdistrict Civil Court on 28 May, which had dismissed Sodiqova’s claim in full.

In that earlier case, Sodiqova alleged that Haydarov had used degrading and defamatory language against her in seven separate Facebook posts. The court proceedings were closed to the public and were presided over by Judge Dilnoza Shomatova. Three linguistic-psychological expert analyses were submitted – one commissioned by the plaintiff and two by the court – all of which concluded that Haydarov’s posts contained language that insulted and demeaned the journalist. Despite this, the judge rejected all the expert conclusions and ruled in favor of the defendant, who did not attend the hearing in person and was represented by his lawyers.

Following the ruling, Sodiqova criticized the court’s conduct, noting that her motions were repeatedly denied and that even court-ordered expert findings were disregarded. She expressed concern that the case set a troubling precedent where public officials and government-affiliated figures may insult journalists without consequence.

The new decision by the Tashkent City Civil Court restores a measure of justice in the eyes of Sodiqova and her supporters, recognizing the blogger’s violation of the journalist’s dignity and ordering compensation for the damage caused.