Amnesty International's petition to end the use of torture in Tajikistan

On 9 August 2009, Lubat Burhanova was told that her son Dilshodbek Murodov had died in prison the day before, apparently of heart failure.

When his body was returned to her for burial she lifted the shroud to find that he had been severely beaten. Lubat believes her son died because he was tortured, and she has been campaigning for justice since.

In Tajikistan, the police and security forces frequently resort to torture and other ill-treatment to obtain confessions. Many victims of torture in pre-trial detention are left with physical and psychological injuries requiring long-term treatment, some die in custody. Those who do survive, often end up in prison after an unfair trial.

In November 2012 the President of Tajikistan declared that torture would not be tolerated. As he stands for the next Presidential Elections in November 2013, ask him now to stand by his promise and put human rights at the heart of his campaign by creating a torture-free zone in Tajikistan.

Sign this petition to help Lubat Burhanova and many others get justice and to end torture and impunity in Tajikistan.

To President of Tajikistan: Emomali Rahmon

Dear President,

Your November 2012 address to the police, declaring that torture would not be tolerated, was a welcome announcement and showed that the authorities in Tajikistan can talk openly about the existence of torture in detention facilities. But it is not enough.

In Tajikistan, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the General Prosecutor’s Office repeatedly fail to investigate torture allegations and perpetrators enjoy impunity. Too often, judges lack the independence or courage to order investigations, even when they can see the injuries themselves.

Many of the victims, their families and lawyers have put faith in the local criminal justice system but they are failed by the state. If they speak out they often face harassment and pressure to withdraw their complaints.

We, the undersigned, call on you to take a lead in combating torture and other ill-treatment in Tajikistan and ensure that:

•    Places of detention are monitored by independent experts;
•    All individual cases of torture and other ill-treatment are thoroughly investigated promptly and impartially;
•    Torture victims and their families have access to redress and compensation, as well as protection for speaking out.

Sign this petition to help Lubat Burhanova and many others get justice and to end torture and impunity in Tajikistan at www.amnesty.org/en/appeals-for-action/Tajikistan

A short weblink version: bit.ly/ZDnBqW

This action is part of a wider action on central Asia aimed at increasing public awareness about torture and the impact of it on families of victims of torture through a series of photo-exhibitions. If you would like to hear more about the exhibition, please get in touch.

Other recent Amnesty International's materials:

Briefing, Old Habits: The routine use of torture and other ill-treatment in Kazakhstan, EUR 57/001/2013, In English, Kazakh and Russian, 11 July 2013;

www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR57/001/2013/en

Report, Return to torture: extradition, forcible returns and removals to Central Asia, EUR 04/001/2012, in English and Russian, 3 July 2013; 

www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR04/001/2013/en

Public document, Eurasia: Cases of torture and abduction in Central Asia, EUR 04/003/2013, in English and French, 3 July 2013; 

www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR04/003/2013/en

Joint submission to the UN Human Rights Committee for the 108th session by Amnesty International and the Coalition against Torture of Tajikistan, EUR 60/005/2013, 21 June 2013, 

www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR57/001/2013/en

Public statement, Exhibitions tell about families campaigning to end impunity for torture and other ill-treatment in Central Asia, EUR 04/004/2013, in English and French, 25 June 2013, 

www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR04/004/2013/en

Public statement, Will there ever be justice? Kyrgyzstan’s failure to investigate June 2010 violence and its aftermath, EUR 58/001/2013, in Arabic, English, French, Kyrgyz and Russian,  11 June 2013; 

www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR58/001/2013/en