Political prisoners addressed an open letter to Rahmon
Two political prisoners, members of the Supreme Presidium of the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan Rahmatullo Rajab and Zubaidullo Rozik, have addressed an open letter to President Rahmon, calling for a review of their cases in the presence of international experts and observers, as well as domestic and foreign journalists. Photo: Internet A copy of […]
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Two political prisoners, members of the Supreme Presidium of the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan Rahmatullo Rajab and Zubaidullo Rozik, have addressed an open letter to President Rahmon, calling for a review of their cases in the presence of international experts and observers, as well as domestic and foreign journalists.
Photo: Internet
A copy of the prisoners’ letter, which reached the editorial office of Azda TV, states that they are innocent of any wrongdoing, except for being members of the IRPT. “If we are found guilty, it will be only for our membership in the IRPT,” the letter says.
The two political prisoners emphasized that on the occasion of Constitution Day, which Rahmon considers himself the guarantor of and is regarded as the protector of the rule of law in the country, they wanted to inform him through an open letter about what has actually happened to them.
It is reported that the original letter was sent to its destination.
We present to your attention the text of the letter from the two political prisoners:
“We, former members of the Supreme Presidium of the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan, currently imprisoned, have submitted complaints and statements to almost all relevant authorities in the country, but unfortunately, all of them responded with a refusal.
Today we are forced to address you with an open letter in hopes of your assistance, and we would like to explain the details of our case in detail.
On the evening of September 15, 2015, employees of the State National Security Committee detained us, 13 members of the Supreme Presidium of the IRPT, and brought us to the detention center of the GKNB from our homes without presenting any documents and after numerous beatings, illegally took us into custody. A few days later, despite our innocence and the lack of any evidence against us, criminal cases were initiated against us and other members of the Supreme Presidium of the IRPT under Article 187, part 2 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Tajikistan. At that time, the activities of the IRPT were officially conducted. The Supreme Court of the Republic of Tajikistan officially banned the activities of the IRPT only 13 days after our detention.
After the General Prosecutor’s Office issued a decision to detain us, as if they had already interrogated us and convinced us of our guilt, new criminal cases were initiated under Articles 187, part 1, 187, part 2, 189, part 3, point “a”, 307, part 3, 331, part 3, point “a”, 104, part 2, points “a”, “b”, “g”, “d”, “e”, “l”, “m”, “p”, 32, part 3, 32, part 3, 104, part 2, 309, part 2, point “b”, 32, part 3, 179, part 3, point “a”, 306, 313, 195, 199, part 4, points “a”, “b”, “g”, “d”, “e”, “l”, “m”, “p”, 307/1, part 1, 307/1, part 2, and interrogations began. This turn of events clearly showed that they further complicated their fabricated cases. Moreover, they classified our cases as “secret” in order to hide the “mystery” of the investigation. In reality, there was no mystery in our case, except for concealing slander from the public. That is why during the investigation from start to finish, the investigators only staged unprofessional performances and played roles. It came to the point that the interrogations of the investigators and our responses were not recorded in the case. We asked the head of the investigative group of the General Prosecutor’s Office, Ibrohim Ibrohimzoda, why our responses were not recorded in the case, but instead, photographs and medical reports unrelated to us were attached to the case? He replied: “Your responses will not lead to a proper result. Therefore, we were forced to gather all this evidence against you.”
Thus, the General Prosecutor’s Office ignored the reality, conducted the case blindly from start to finish, and through numerous manipulations recognized us as guilty. When we presented convincing evidence of our innocence during the investigation, the investigators with lazy smiles showed that we had no other choice but to end up in prison and that this was an order from above. From their words, it became clear that we were not imprisoned according to the law for our crimes, but in a democratic country based on the rule of law, we faced such a tragedy at the direction of someone “above.” The most painful and surprising thing was that every time we spoke about the observance of the law and the rule of law in conversations with GKNB employees, they all mocked and ridiculed our words. They showed in every way that everything was in their hands and they were above the law.
Thus, the General Prosecutor’s Office transferred the fabricated case to the Supreme Court of the Republic of Tajikistan. The presiding judge in the court session, Sattorzo A., during the trial did not take into account the evidence we presented and seemed not to hear our words. He tried not to make the slightest changes to the fabricated cases of the General Prosecutor’s Office. This indicates that he was under pressure and had no independence in making a decision. Even when he heard compelling evidence of “innocent 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 the innocent Khisainov Umarali and Khaitov Mahmadali, well-known figures in the country who have always served the people, to life imprisonment.
77-year-old Rozikov Zubaidullo, who at this age should have been surrounded by his children and grandchildren and engaged in their upbringing, was sentenced to 25 years in prison and sent to a high-security colony.
70-year-old Hikmatullo Saifullodzoda, a free-thinking journalist in the country, was sentenced to 16 years in prison.
One of the best scholars and a recipient of the Order of Honor, Muhammadali Faizmuhammad, was sentenced to 23 years in prison.
64-year-old Jabir Rahmatullo Rajab, Davlatov Abdukakhor, and Avazov Kiyomidin, scholars and worthy individuals, were sentenced to 28 years in prison, as well as other members of the Supreme Presidium of the IRPT who received long prison sentences.
It should be noted that despite the case being classified as “secret” to hide the lies and slander of GKNB employees, the General Prosecutor’s Office, and the Supreme Court, this did not help them, and the 99-page verdict was fully published online. The international community learned the reality and recognized us as political prisoners.
Dear Emomali Rahmon, we, the “innocent 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 Academy of Sciences employees, analytical centers, unknown journalists, educational institution staff, 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 the public of the country and the international community do not recognize us as political prisoners.
It should be noted that if we are found “guilty,” it will be only for 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 for 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.
That we are considered the initiators of the Khoji Khalim uprising is fabricated by interested parties. You, dear president, know better where this uprising began and for what reason it was organized. We believe that over time and with the disclosure of 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 Constitution Day of the country, of which you are the guarantor and always the protector of the rule of law in the country, we wanted to inform you through an open letter about what has actually happened.
For this reason, we respectfully ask you, the Founder of Peace and National Unity – Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, to assist in reviewing our case in the presence of international experts and observers, as well as domestic and foreign journalists.
Photo: Internet