Appeal of political prisoners to the authorities of Tajikistan

A group of political prisoners in Tajikistan is requesting that their cases be reviewed in the presence of experts and international observers. Moreover, they have something to say to Emomali Rahmon.

Photo: Internet

The full text of the manuscript of the appeal from the political prisoners of Tajikistan, which has come into the possession of AZDA TV, is presented to readers unedited.

To the Supreme Court of the Republic of Tajikistan,

To the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Tajikistan,

To the State Committee for National Security of the Republic of Tajikistan,

To the Commissioner for Human Rights in Tajikistan

On behalf of the convicted YS 3/1 GUIN MJU of the Republic of Tajikistan, Zubaidullo Rozikov, Hikmatullo Saifullozoda, Muhammadali Faizmuhammad, and Jabir Rahmatullo Rajab

APPEAL

First of all, we remind you that we, former members of the Supreme Presidium of the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan (IRPT), were detained by the officers of the GKNB on September 16, 2015, taken to the GKNB pre-trial detention center from our homes without any documents and illegally detained. A few days later, despite the fact that we and other members of the IRPT were innocent, charges were brought against us and criminal cases were initiated under Article 187, Part 2 of the Criminal Code of the RT.

After the Court issued a decision on detention, as if they had already interrogated us and convinced us, new criminal cases were initiated under Articles 104, 131, 179, 187, 170, 189, 195, 199, 306, 307, 32, 313, 32 of the Criminal Code of the RT, and interrogations began. It was felt that they had complicated their fabricated cases even more.

Furthermore, they classified our cases as “Secret” and thus wanted to hide the “secrecy” of the investigation. Thus, the General Prosecutor’s Office did not take into account all the circumstances of the case from beginning to end, blindly, with numerous fabrications, and unjustifiably found us guilty.

When during the investigation we presented convincing evidence of our innocence, the investigators with a lazy smile showed that we had no choice but to end up in prison, and this was an order from above.

The General Prosecutor’s Office forwarded these fabricated cases to the Supreme Court of the Republic of Tajikistan without physical evidence. The presiding judge in the court session, Sattorzoda A., although he showed democratic actions during the trial, in reality, he heard the evidence we presented but did not take it into account. He tried to leave the fabricated cases of the General Prosecutor’s Office unchanged. This indicates that he was not independent in making the decision and was under pressure. Even when he heard compelling evidence of “the innocent being guilty,” he raised his hand and showed that he too was helpless and that the decision on the case would be made elsewhere.

As a result, the presiding judge sentenced Khisainov Umarali and Khaitov Mahmadali to life imprisonment, Rozikov Zubaidullo to 25 years, Hikmatullo Saifullozoda to 16 years, Muhammadali Faizmuhammad to 23 years, Jabir Rahmatullo Rajab, Davlatov Abdukakhhor, and Avazov Kiyomidin to 28 years, and other members of the Supreme Presidium of the IRPT to long prison terms.

Despite the fact that the case was classified as “secret” and considered secretly by court officials, the 100-page verdict was fully published online. The international community learned the reality and recognized us as political prisoners.

It should be noted that if we are found “guilty,” it is for nothing other than our membership in the IRPT. A party that was registered with the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Tajikistan and operated officially. During its activity, it committed no violations. A party that contributed to various aspects of public life in the country and made great efforts to achieve independence and its restoration in the country. A party without which tolerance and pluralism in society would be unthinkable. A party that played a key role in achieving peace and national reconciliation and was at the center of one of the sides of peace.

We, the “innocent being guilty,” have already suffered behind bars for 6 years. Moreover, we have been branded as “extremists and terrorists,” insulted as traitors to the nation and the Motherland, and some bribed writers under the names of employees of the Academy of Sciences, analytical centers, unknown journalists, employees of educational institutions, etc., publish all this in the media. Although some of them were closely associated with the IRPT, they even called it an important party for Tajik society. We are not at all concerned about their cries and screams because we know ourselves well. We know that we have not betrayed and will never betray our native Motherland and our great people.

They brand us only so that we are not recognized as political prisoners.

The fact that we are considered the initiators of the Khoji Khalim uprising is fabricated by interested parties. You know better where this uprising began and for what reason it was organized. We believe that over time and with the revelation of the supporters of past events, you have already understood that the IRPT has nothing to do with this uprising. For 6 years we have patiently awaited and endured all hardships in the hope that the day will come when common sense will prevail and the truth will surface. But, unfortunately, our hopes have not been fulfilled.

Therefore, today, on the eve of the celebration of the country’s independence, to which we believe we have contributed, we wanted to express ourselves and declare ourselves by publishing this appeal.

In this regard, we urgently call on you to review this case and, if you consider us guilty, to examine our actions and deeds in the presence of experts and international observers. If our demand is not met, we will have to appeal to the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, and we have something to say to him as well.

The convicted:

Z. Rozik

H. Saifullozoda

M. Faizmuhammad

R. R. Jabir