Abdusalom Odinzoda sentenced to 3.5 years in prison

An Australian court sentenced 54-year-old biochemist Abdusalam Odinazoda, a citizen of Tajikistan, to 3.5 years in prison for “promoting terrorism through YouTube.”

Photo: Internet

According to Australian media, Odinazoda has been in a detention center since December 2020 and may be released on parole in early August 2023.

It is unknown what Odinazoda said at the last court hearing, but, as reported by ABC News, he complained to the judge that he faced discrimination and threats in prison, including from racists and supporters of white supremacy.

It was previously reported that Abdusalam Odinazoda was arrested on December 23, 2022, after several months of investigation conducted by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO).

In December 2020, Australian media reported that the court charged Odinazoda with four counts under the criminal code for “promoting terrorism.”

On October 21, 2021, the West Australian portal also reported that Abdusalam Odinazoda faced 14 new charges related to terrorism.

Odinazoda is a native of the rural community of Surkh in the city of Isfara. In recent years, he taught at the University of Western Australia. According to him, he lived and worked in other countries since he was 16 and never held Tajik citizenship.

Abdusalam Odinazoda was a successful doctor of chemical and biological sciences. He published a large number of studies. In 2015, he also taught students at the Tajik Medical University.

Abdusalam Odinazoda was active on Facebook, where he regularly criticized the actions of the government and the opposition. Recently, he engaged in disputes with followers of Ismailism.