Shokhida Mamadjonova sentenced to 6 years in prison

Photo: Internet

According to Radio Ozodi, Shohida Mahmadjonova, the mother of blogger and government critic Sherzod Mahmadjonov (known as “Abdurakhmon 09”), residing in Germany, was sentenced to 6 years in a penal colony by the Ismoili Somoni district court in Dushanbe on April 7.

Mahmadjonova’s lawyers disagree with the court’s verdict and stated that they will appeal it.

The first court hearing in the case of Shohida Mahmadjonova took place on April 7. The prosecutor stated that Mahmadjonova posted comments on YouTube under her son’s video and the “Isloh+” clip, which were directed against the constitutional order of Tajikistan.

The defendant admitted that she did write those comments, as her brother, who worked in a military unit, was dismissed in June 2021. Relatives reproached Mahmadjonova for her son’s statements leading to her brother’s dismissal.

Shohida Mahmadjonova emphasized that upon visiting her mother’s house and seeing her brother’s condition, she felt guilty. According to her, at the beginning of the school year, when she saw that her unemployed brother could not buy school uniforms for his children, she could not hold back and posted two comments insulting the authorities on YouTube.

Shohida Mahmadjonova’s lawyer requested the court to impose a non-custodial sentence, citing his client’s sincere remorse.

The case of Shohida Mahmadjonova has become resonant, especially among opposition representatives. Almost all opposition members expressed support for Mahmadjonova, condemned her detention, and demanded her immediate release.

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 Shohida Mahmadjonova to the station to retrieve her mobile phone, which was in their possession. On February 3, his mother went to the organized crime department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Vahdat and went missing. Later, on February 8, under pressure from civil society and human rights groups, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan was forced to acknowledge that she had been detained, but her relatives were still not allowed to see Mahmadjonova.