On 9 February 2016, Tajikistan’s Supreme Court begins hearing the cases
of 13 leading members of the banned Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan
(IRPT). The trial will be held behind the closed doors since it has been
“classified”.
The relatives of the defendants have been invited to court on 8
February, one day before the start of the process.
All 13 leading IRPT member were arrested on 16-18 September 2015, after
the conclusion of the special security operation initiated against the armed
group of Abduhalim Nazarzoda over two armed attacks that took place in Tajikistan
at the beginning of September. The Tajikistani authorities have accused IRPT
leader Muhiddin Kabiri (who is in exile) and the whole party of involvement in
these armed attacks. On 29 September 2015, Tajikistan’s Supreme Court declared
the IRPT a “terrorist” and “extremist” organization.
Immediately after the arrests of IRPT members, there were reports of the
confiscation of property of party members, as well as pressure on their
relatives, including under-age children. Many relatives of arrested IRPT
members were dismissed from their jobs on the basis of what appears to have
been unofficial orders by the Tajikistani authorities. IRPT members are subjected
to widespread discrimination.
The charges against arrested IRPT members are largely based on
confessions believed to have been obtained under duress. The prosecutor signed
off on the indictment and the case was handed over to court. As the trial will
be held behind the closed doors, procedural violations will not be disclosed to
the public, and the proceedings are likely to be only formal in nature.
The defendants in the trial include:
— Saidumar Husayni (born 1961), first deputy chair of the IRPT, member
of the political council and presidium of the party, previous MP, has a PhD
degree in philosophy.
— Muhammadali
Hajit (born 20 October 1957), deputy chair of the IRPT, member
of the political council and presidium of the party, former officer of the
military intelligence service of the Soviet Union, holder of the Soviet Red
Star order.
— Abdukahhori
Davlat (born on 5 August 1975), member of the political
council and presidium of the IRPT, head of the department of external relations
of the IRPT.
— Rahmatulloi
Radzhab (born on 5 June 1958), member of the highest
political council of the IRPT, chair of the IRPT department for district
branches and head of the election department.
— Zubajdulloi
Rozik (born 1946), member of the political council and
presidium of the IRPT, head of the IRPT department for science, former imam at
a mosque in the Gozmalik district, former chief editor of the IRPT publication
“Nazhot”.
— Muhammadali
Fajzmuhammad (born 1959), member of the
political council and presidium of the IRPT, head of the religious committee of
the IRPT, previous member of the committee for national reconciliation, former
imam in the Pyandzhskij district, Muslim scholar.
— Hikmatullo
Sajfullozoda (born on 1 March 1950), member
of the political council and presidium of the IRPT, chief editor of the IRPT
publication “Nazhot”, former press secretary of IRPT, former member of the
Central Election Committee, journalist and political scientist.
— Kijomiddin
Avazov (born on 24 June 1973), member of the political
council and presidium of the IRPT, head of the IRPT branch in Dushanbe,
previous chair of the party department for youth and sports, previous party
functionary and expert on the Arabic language.
— Zarafo Rahmoni (born on 23 February 1972), member of the political
council and presidium of the IRPT, lawyer and journalist.
— Muhammadsharif
Nabiyev, member of the highest political council if the IRPT
and head of the IRPT branch in the city of Kulyab.
— Abdusamad
Gayratov (born 1962), member of the highest political council
of the IRPT.
— Sattar Karimov (born 1959), member of the highest political council
of the IRPT.
— Vohidhon Kosidinov (born 1969), member of the highest political council
of the IRPT, head of the elections department of the party, previous deputy
chair of the party, previous head of the party organization in the city of
Isfara.
Among the defendants
is one woman, Zarafo Rahmoni:
Zarafo Rahmoni has four children, the youngest of whom is not yet seven
years old. She has serious health problems and suffers from heart and kidney
pain, nervous exhaustion and severe depression.
Throughout the investigation, neither Zarafo’s sister nor
representatives of the Red Cross have been allowed to visit her in the
pre-trial detention facility where she has been held in Dushanbe.
Her two lawyers, Sitor Azizov and Zaydullo Davlatov have, however, been allowed
to visit her and have also brought her medicine and food. They saw her the last
time on 15 January 2016, when she familiarized herself with case materials. On
18 January, the case was handed over to court. The lawyers have not told
Zarafo’s relatives any details, out of fear of losing their lawyer’s licenses.
Zarafo’s relatives are allowed to pass on medicine and food to her once
a week. On 20 January 2016, her oldest and youngest son were able to meet her for
the first time since her arrest.
IRPT members who
have already been sentenced to imprisonment:
- Hasan Rahimov, head of the IRPT branch in the Farhor district. On 27 November 2015, the Supreme Court of Tajikistan sentenced him to nine years in prison after finding him guilty of calling for terrorist activities, establishing an extremist organization, unlawfully possessing weapons and inciting national and religious hatred.
- The following individuals have also been convicted on similar charges and sentenced to prison: Zainidin Yusupov (10 years in prison), Asomiddin Abdurahmonov (10 years in prison), Tavakkal Boboev (18 years in prison), Rustam Emomov (17 years in prison), Umarsho Davlatov (15 years in prison), Mahmadali Islomov (5 years in prison) and Zavkibekov Rakhmonov (4 years in prison).
IRPT
members who have had their passports confiscated and who have been ordered not
to travel anywhere:
- Abbos Radjabov, Mirzo Cool Toshmatov, Sherali Saidov, Nodir Abdulloeva, Saidmahmud Saidov and Oisha Bobochonova.
IRPT
members who have been declared wanted:
- Muhiddin
Kabiri, Nazar Sayidibrohimi Karim Shohnaimi, Afzali Kamariddin,
Khayrinisso Saidov, Ilhom Ekubov, Nematullo Amonbekov, Gulbarga Sayfova,
Sharofat Sharofiddinova and others.
The Association for Human Rights in Central Asia (AHRCA) has received
information about the arrest of 93 IRPT representatives. However, this is not
exhaustive information. The scope of the repression against party members is
much wider. Many are intimidated and afraid to provide information about such
repression.
* * *
The ACHRA considers that the IRPT was declared a
“terrorist” and “extremist” organization on politically motivated grounds.
The organization calls on the EU, the OSCE, the United
States and other international partners of Tajikistan to demand that the
authorities of the country respect their international human rights
obligations. The authorities of the country should ensure the right to freedom
of association, assembly, expression and religion, as well as impartial and
fair trials, where the principle of equality of arms is upheld. Those who are guilty
of torture and ill-treatment should be held accountable.
