The Minister of Justice did not explain why Khait was denied a meeting with relatives

The Minister of Justice of Tajikistan Muzaffar Ashuriyon did not explain why the convicted Deputy Chairman of the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan Mahmadali Hait was denied a meeting with relatives.

Photo: Internet

On February 2, during a press conference of the Ministry of Justice, Radio Ozodi journalist asked Minister of Justice Muzaffar Ashuriyon why Mahmadali Hait was denied a meeting with relatives, but the minister evaded a direct answer and did not provide details. He only stated that the prison administration “did not commit any illegal actions against him.”

“While this was prohibited, he committed some violation. When his turn comes, and if there are no violations, then within the framework provided by law, he can meet with his relatives,” Ashuriyon said.

Judging by how the minister was constantly searching through papers, either he did not have information on this issue, or he did not want to speak the truth about why Mahmadali Hait was denied a meeting with relatives, which occurs once every six months through glass.

On November 24, 2020, Mahmadali Hait was scheduled to meet with close relatives, but the detention center administration did not allow Hait’s wife to meet with him. “He allegedly violated prison regulations, and by the decision of the administration, he was denied a meeting. The reason was supposedly that my husband repeatedly refused to go out for daytime walks,” said Djurabekova.

Relatives of Mahmadali Hait believe that refusing to go for a walk is not a serious violation of the internal regulations of the detention center. The relatives of the political prisoner initially appealed to the head of the GUIN of the Ministry of Justice Mansurjon Umarov, the human rights commissioner in Tajikistan, and the general prosecutor’s office, requesting clarification on the reasons for the denial of the meeting with the convicted person, but did not receive a response.

Relatives of Mahmadali Hait fear that something bad has happened to him, and for this reason, the authorities are refusing them a meeting.

On January 19, Savriniso Djurabekova and Firuzi Mahmadali, the wife and son of the life-sentenced Mahmadali Hait, appealed to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the OSCE, and other international organizations for assistance in obtaining information about the head of the family.

“The reason for our appeal to you is that we have had no information about the health and life of Mahmadali Hait for more than seven months. According to the legislation of Tajikistan, we have the right to visit Mahmadali Hait only once every six months. The last time we saw him was in May of last year. Our next meeting was supposed to take place on November 24, 2021. But, unfortunately, on that day we were told that there would be no meeting with the convict Mahmadali Hait because he was punished. The colony staff, as well as the leaders of the GUIN of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Tajikistan, could not clearly and reasonably explain to us why we were denied the next legally provided meeting. We have repeatedly appealed orally and in writing to the head of GUIN Mansurjon Umarov, the Ombudsman of Tajikistan Umed Bobozoda, and the general prosecutor’s office, and tried to get answers to questions regarding the violation he committed, his health status, whether he is alive or not. So far, we have received no responses,” the letter states.