OSCE member states called for strict sanctions against Rahmon

Independent Tajik activist Shabnam Khudoydodova called on Western countries not to assist Emomali Rahmon and to impose strict sanctions against him.

On October 5, at the 3rd plenary session of the Warsaw Conference on Human Dimension of the OSCE: Tolerance and Non-Discrimination I, participants discussed “The Fight Against Racism, Xenophobia, Discrimination, and Intolerance.”

At the meeting, independent Tajik activist Shabnam Khudoydodova compared the persecution, detentions, and killings of residents of Badakhshan to the “Holocaust” – the persecution and murder of Jews during World War II.

According to her, due to mass oppression, as well as anti-Pamir propaganda from the government and changing attitudes of the population towards Pamiris – an ethnic and religious minority, residents of GBAO are leaving the country in search of a safe life.

She also emphasized that government propaganda significantly influences citizens at the everyday level, and residents, succumbing to propaganda, begin to oppress, insult, and persecute Pamiris outside of GBAO.

“Localism, chauvinism, and discrimination against small nations are growing in Tajikistan every day. Pamiris are not allowed to speak and learn in their native languages. There is no radio, television, or textbooks in Pamiri languages. There is violent assimilation and destruction of this people,” Khudoydodova stated.

The independent Tajik activist also demanded the imposition of strict sanctions against the country’s leadership.

“For many years, we have been asking the OSCE mission to protect the rights of our citizens, but this remains unanswered. Today, I am not asking; I am demanding that the OSCE mission make a decision on sanctions against the authorities of Tajikistan. I demand strict sanctions against the President of Tajikistan and his family members, similar to the sanctions imposed on the President of Russia,” she declared.

Khudoydodova also urged the authorities in the United States and European countries not to provide financial assistance to Rahmon.

“Believe me, this money is not used for the benefit of the Tajik people. Emomali Rahmon uses this money to strengthen his personal power. I hope that the demands and appeals of civil society and independent activists will not go unnoticed,” said Shabnam Khudoydodova.

The Warsaw Conference on Human Dimension, organized by the OSCE, will take place from October 2 to 13, 2023, in Warsaw, the capital of Poland.

At the Warsaw Conference on Human Dimension, representatives of OSCE member states and civil society will discuss issues related to human rights, fundamental freedoms, freedom of speech and the press, rights and freedoms of minorities, etc., over the course of two weeks.

The Warsaw Conference on Human Dimension is considered an important platform for representatives of the authorities and opposition forces. At this conference, Tajikistan is represented only by opposition representatives and independent activists. Representatives of the Tajik government did not participate in the conference. The reason for their absence is unknown. The authorities themselves did not explain their absence.

The political movement “Group 24” and the National Alliance of Tajikistan are actively participating.

The head of the executive committee of the political movement “Group 24,” Dilshod Sharifov, told Azda.tv on the sidelines of the Warsaw conference that he explained the absence of the government delegation:

“I personally believe that the current government of Rahmonov ignores the calls and recommendations of many organizations. In particular, as is well known, it even ignored the recommendations of the UN regarding political prisoners. Therefore, the current government of Tajikistan does not wish to attend OSCE meetings again, hear about the country’s problems at the organization’s conferences, and meet face to face with civil activists who actively participate in these conferences.”

The head of the executive apparatus of “Group 24” stated that the representatives of the movement, unlike the representatives of the Tajik government, will actively use the OSCE platform and other organizations to discuss human rights violations and the existing problems of the citizens of Tajikistan both in the country and abroad.