“Group 24” commented on the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ accusations against Shohida Mahmadjonova

The political movement “Group 24” has denied the claims of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan that Shokhida Mahmadjonova is a member of “Group 24”.

Photo: Internet

On February 10, the political movement “Group 24” issued a statement that “neither Sherzod Mahmadjonov nor his mother Shokhida Mahmadjonova have any relation to the political movement ‘Group 24’, as emphasized by both Sherzod Mahmadjonov and his mother Shokhida Mahmadjonova.”

The opposition movement “Group 24” noted in its statement that Sherzod Mahmadjonov is a blogger living in Germany who has criticized the religious policies of the Tajik government in recent years and has been “a thorn in the government’s side.”

According to Radio Ozodi, on February 9, law enforcement officials told Shokhida Mahmadjonova’s mother that “her son is accused of collaborating with the opposition movement ‘Group 24’.” The media was unable to obtain further details.

As reported by the official website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan, resident of the city of Vahdat Mahmadjonova Shokhida Davlatjonovna, born in 1977, is suspected of extremism and has been detained. A criminal case has been initiated against her under Article 307, Supplement 3, Part 2 (organization of activities of an extremist organization) of the Criminal Code of Tajikistan.

43-year-old Shokhida Mahmadjonova worked at the central hospital of Vahdat for 18 years, but on January 3, 2020, under pressure from the authorities, she resigned, allegedly “of her own accord.”

Sherzod Mahmadjonov, a Tajik blogger living in Germany and known by the nickname “Abdurakhmon 09,” previously told Azda TV that on February 2, police officers in Vahdat summoned his mother Shokhida Mahmadjonova to the station to retrieve her mobile phone, which was in the possession of the officers. When his mother arrived at the department for combating organized crime of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Vahdat on February 3, she was detained.