Police arrested Ismoil Adylov, a long-time activist and leading member of the Independent Human Rights Organization of Uzbekistan, from his home in Tashkent on July 10, 1999. While he was in custody some thirty armed soldiers descended upon Adylov's home and threatened to enter by force if the family did not allow them to search the premisis. All this despite the fact that authorities had no warrant.

Witnesses allege that officers planted evidence during the search, including the 100 religious leaflets the police claimed to have found there. Authorities held Adylov incommunicado in a basement cell in the Ministry of Internal Affairs for nine days before allowing him his first meeting with his attorney.

Adylov was convicted on September 29, 1999 to six years in prison following a closed trial that his lawyer claimed fell well below standards for a fair hearing. The Tashkent regional court denied his appeal on October 26, 1999. Until February 2000, Adylov was held in Chirchik prison prison, where authorities denied him necessary medical assistance for a chronic kidney ailment.

In late February 2000, authorities transfered Adylov from Chirchik prison to an unspecified location. His whereabouts remained unknown.