UN experts expressed concern over the persecution of human rights defenders in Tajikistan

On July 4, in their statement, UN experts expressed concern over the sentences against human rights defenders, activists, and journalists, and urged the government of Tajikistan to demonstrate its genuine commitment to improving the situation of human rights defenders in the country.

The statement notes that the criminalization of lawful and peaceful activities of human rights defenders is incompatible with Tajikistan’s international human rights obligations. Experts emphasized that “the identification of human rights defenders with extremists and terrorists is a very dangerous practice.”

Particular attention was given by UN experts to the cases of journalists, bloggers, and human rights defenders who were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 7 to 29 years on charges of extremism and terrorism from October to December 2022, specifically mentioning Daleri Imomali, Abdullo Gurbati, Zavkibek Saidamini, Abdusat tor Pirmukhammadzoda, Ulfatkhonim Mamadshoeva, Manuchehr Kholiknazarov, Faromuz Irgashov, and Khushom Gulom.

“While various charges were brought against human rights defenders, eight out of nine detainees were reportedly charged with crimes related to extremism and terrorism,” the statement notes.

UN experts also expressed serious concern over the apparent use of anti-terrorism legislation to silence critical voices.

Journalists and bloggers Daleri Imomali, Abdullo Gurbati, Zavkibek Saidamini, and Abdusat tor Pirmukhammadzoda were imprisoned for covering social issues and human rights violations in the country, experts stated.

“Ulfatkhonim Mamadshoeva, a representative of civil society in Badakhshan, and lawyers Manuchehr Kholiknazarov and Faromuz Irgashov, along with blogger Khushom Gulom, were engaged in human rights activities in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region. They were arrested in May 2022 during the dispersal of protesters in GBAO and human rights defenders,” the statement reads.

UN experts also noted that at least five convicted human rights defenders did not have access to lawyers, at least three criminal cases were classified as “secret,” and at least eight trials of human rights defenders were held behind closed doors.

The statement also mentions that experts express concern over the conditions of detention of convicted human rights defenders and their health status. They strongly urged the government of Tajikistan to ensure access to proper medical care, including medications and treatment.

This is not the first time that experts from the UN and other international organizations have expressed concern about the human rights situation in Tajikistan. Previously, the UN and other human rights organizations also called on the Tajik authorities to immediately and unconditionally release political prisoners, including members of the PIVT, Zayd Saidov, convicted human rights defenders Buzurgmehr Yorov, Mahmadruzi Iskandarov, and others. However, the Tajik authorities always ignore these calls from human rights organizations and do not follow their recommendations.