Watchdog

The Kyrgyz Supreme Court has ruled that the case of slain journalist Alisher Saipov should be sent back to an Osh city court for further investigation, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

Sapiov's father, Avaz Saipov, initiated the Supreme Court appeal, hoping that his son's murder would be reinvestigated by a different court.

But the Supreme Court's ruling means the same court will be conducting the fresh investigation.

Former policeman Abdufarid Rasulov has been accused of involvement in Saipov's murder and was awaiting trial.

Twenty-six-year-old Alisher Saipov, who was murdered in broad daylight in 2007, was an ethnic Uzbek and editor in chief of an Osh-based newspaper who often wrote articles critical of Uzbek President Islam Karimov and his government.

He also worked as a correspondent for RFE/RL and Voice of America.

In 2007 Saipov was shot dead as he left his office in central Osh.

His father told RFE/RL that he was unhappy with today's Supreme Court decision.

He insisted he has evidence that shows his son was killed by agents from Uzbekistan in retaliation for the critical articles he wrote.

A high school geography teacher in the southeastern Kazakh city of Taldy-Qorghan has turned to the Prosecutor's Office for permission to wear an Islamic head scarf (hijab) while teaching, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports.

Aida Dekebaeva says school principal Gulnara Muratbekova "recommended" that she not wear the hijab while teaching.

Dekebaeva said the school recently adopted a dress code that bans head scarves for both students and teachers.

Muratbekova told RFE/RL that she warned Dekebaeva about the way she dresses and told her to make sure it is in accordance with Education Department guidelines.

Meanwhile, local human rights activist Aliya Kasymkhankyzy told RFE/RL that the constitution protects the right of every citizen to worship any religion and school principals should respect Dekebaeva's right to dress as she wishes.

Dekebaeva says she is ready for a long-term fight but is awaiting the Prosecutor's Office to respond to her letter.