A married couple in Fergana, Uzbekistan, has been sentenced to five years in prison for attempting to sell their infant son. The verdict was reported by the local TV program “Bu kun” on Zo‘r TV channel.
According to court documents, the couple, who lived in a religious marriage, had a son in October 2025 in Kokand. The husband later moved to Fergana for work and subsequently brought his wife and child with him.
During the trial, the woman stated that she agreed to give away the child due to financial difficulties and family disputes. “At that time, I had a conflict with my father. He said, 'Leave the house with your child.' There was a big fight. So I left with my son,” she testified.
She initially rejected the offer but later consented, believing that “the child would live in good conditions.”
The woman planned to use the money to pay off debts and travel to Turkey for work. “I wanted to pay off my debts. I wanted to go to Turkey, work with my sister, and build a house for myself. I had business plans,” she explained.
She also told the court that she discussed the matter with her husband, who allegedly replied, “Okay, if you need it. Then we'll break up and divorce.”
The Fergana City Criminal Court found both defendants guilty under Article 135 (Human Trafficking) of the Criminal Code and sentenced each to five years in prison.
The court also ruled on the child's fate, placing him under the protection of the Kokand City Social Protection Agency and the city administration's child protection department.
The report did not specify the infant's exact age or the amount of money involved in the planned sale.
Earlier, an 18-year-old girl was arrested in Bukhara for attempting to sell her three-day-old baby for $4,000.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, 177 cases of human trafficking were recorded in Uzbekistan in 2025. Currently, three main types are prevalent: sexual exploitation, labor exploitation, and baby trafficking. In the first quarter of 2026, 57 such cases were identified.
It is worth noting that last year Uzbekistan tightened penalties for human trafficking. Specifically, committing the crime using forged documents is punishable by 5 to 10 years in prison (previously 5 to 8 years). If the crime results in the victim's death, the perpetrator faces 10 to 15 years of imprisonment.
Source: www.gazeta.uz