Photography can be dangerous

This is a terrible story - makes me realise that despite a few complaints at least we can pretty much do as we please within reason as photographers in the UK wihout the fear of reprisals present in some parts of the world.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8473285.stm

Uzbekistan is a rather extreme place. We have a project there that often runs into all sorts of problems.

The photographs are really very good. Let's hope international pressure helps, although I somehow doubt it.

K.

Interesting how the uzbeks accuse her of portraying her of distorting the image of uzbekistan..

yet she is under threat of 3 years hard labour

The images are thought provoking, most have a peaceful calm feeling.

I can't see how the Uzbek authorities can say they're portraying a poor image!

All that Uzbekistan is proving here is that they have a backward government that fails to understand how tourism works. Most states trade enthusiastically on their unspoiled countryside, realising that photos of traditionally-dressed people do wonders for bringing in visitors. Would they rather she'd taken photos of burger bars and clone shops in a city? Those would do nothing for tourism as they'd look exactly the same as your local shopping centre.

I could take photos in parts of Britain that don't include "modern" things, in fact the structures in many of my photos are around a hundred years old. I do this because to be quite honest modern architecture leaves me cold. Is this giving a poor image? I doubt it, friends from the other side of the world have seen the photos and now want to visit Britain!

I can't help but suspect that something is happening under the table here. Does the photographer have a history of protesting against their government or as a human rights activist? It sounds exactly like the sort of made-up charge a dictatorship would use to crush opposition to me.