Torture is a horrible virus and the vaccine against it is publicity. Don’t keep silent!

Submitted by admin on 25.06.2020 - 10:55

Did you know that there is a virus in the world that takes hundreds of thousands of human lives every year? A virus that has lived with us for centuries. A virus that can infect anyone at any time: women and men, children, and the elderly. You cannot escape it by washing your hands. It doesn't care whether you are wearing a mask or not. No protective suit can help. This virus not only destroys human health but also a human’s life.

And the worst part is that people whose lives have been destroyed by this virus are afraid to talk about it. This means that the virus continues to breed and affect people. Even those who think there's nothing to be afraid of. That it will not touch them.

That virus is torture. The vaccine against this virus is publicity. People need to know what is going on. Torture likes silence. People who torture are happy when others are silent about their crimes. Because they are given impunity. And impunity breeds new crimes.

We will not remain silent and will tell stories about the people who have been tortured in our country. We still have many such cases. Perhaps right now the same thing is happening to your friends and the people you know. And the only way to weed out the system from torture is to speak about it.

The story of a 33-year-old oncologist, father of two children...

Khurshed, a young talented doctor, who tipped to have a brilliant future by colleagues, was returning from training. It was the National Reconciliation Day. One could feel the atmosphere of the holiday. The center of the capital was heavily patrolled by police. Khurshed hurried home to his parents, who waited for him at the festive table. The guy was smiling, imagining what his mother had prepared deliciously this time. And he thought he shouldn't forget to stop to buy ice cream for the kids on the way.

He started catching a taxi, but suddenly heard from one of the patrolmen:

- Hey, you, stop!

Khurshed thought it wasn't about him, so he kept catching a car.

Two policemen came up to him and demanded to see the contents of the sports bag.

Khurshed refused. He rushed to his family and didn't understand why he was stopped and what the policemen wanted.

He was pushed into a police car and nobody saw Khurshed alive again.

An examination carried out after death showed that the man was severely beaten. A doctor who could save the lives of hundreds of people was killed by the police.

Despite the help rendered by human rights advocates and the insistence of Khurshed's parents, no one was held responsible for this case. The case was opened several times and was closed with the wording: "due to the failure to identify the persons involved in Khurshed's death". Currently, the case has been referred to the UN Committee against Torture. Parents and human rights activists do not lose the hope that justice will be served.

The Coalition against Torture was established to help victims of torture, their loved ones, and the people who seek justice. You can support us.

For Khatlon and GBAO:  +992 98 787 66 66

For Sogd Region: +992 98 787 33 33

For Dushanbe and DRS:  +992  98 708 76 76

The story of adolescent Khushvaqt

Khushwaqt is an ordinary teenager who, like all other peers of him, loves gadgets. How happy he was when a friend offered him to buy a good new "mobile phone" and even at half price. The guy didn't know that the village shop had been robbed last night and now he has got a stolen phone. The joy of buying did not last long.

Having inquired the residents, the district police officer quickly closed in on the young owner of the mobile phone and rubbed his hands that he can close the case so quickly. "Why ever would I bother looking for a real thief? I'll put a little pressure on the young man, and I am good to go," thought the policeman.

He called the teenager into his office. Khushwaqt, overcoming the deceitful shudder in his knees, entered the building of the district police, saw the named room number and knocked.

The policeman, looking out into the corridor and having made sure that the guy came alone, closed the door behind him.

- "Well, tell me how you stole the phone", the policeman strictly asked, leaning towards Khushwaqt's face.

- I didn’t st….

- Beast, tell the truth! - formidably interrupted him the policeman and punched his fist on the table with all his might. - Otherwise, you don't know what I'm about to do to you right here. And nobody will help you.

- But I didn't steal - Khushwaqt's voice came off in tears. - I bought this phone!

- You jerk, do you think that's how I believed you!? 

The interrogation continued for several hours, after which the policeman let the boy go and ordered him to appear before him the next day.

Hushwaqt somehow got home and tried to hang himself in the cow barn. He had already put a noose on himself and was silently saying goodbye to everybody, but, fortunately, the family came in time. The unconscious child was taken to the hospital. He was rescued, and the policeman was sentenced to 7 years in prison for torture.

The Coalition against Torture was established to help victims of torture, their loved ones, and the people who seek justice. You can support us.

For Khatlon and GBAO:  +992 98 787 66 66

For Sogd Region: +992 98 787 33 33

For Dushanbe and DRS:  +992  98 708 76 76

The story of Sharofat and her son, who perjured himself under torture

Trouble came into Sharofat's house unexpectedly. On an autumn day, her son Hassan was detained by police officers on suspicion of murder. Sharofat did not believe that her son could kill a man and tried to chase away the negative thoughts. And Hassan did not confess to such a serious crime, because, as it had turned out later, he merely did not commit it.

The police officers decided to go the other way: every day during two weeks they brought Sharofat to the department, pressured her, and forced to slander her son. She was forced to bring the victim's belongings - a gold bracelet and a phone - which she supposedly hid, otherwise they threatened to bring a case against her as well. From morning to night, the woman was interrogated in different rooms, without letting her eat or drink. She was insulted from all sides, and one policeman even spat in her face:

- Hey, you, b..ch, who gave birth to the murderer, you will soon go after your son, understand! Damn thief!

Later on, Hassan's 8-year-old daughter was brought to the department and in the presence of her father and grandmother, they started threatening to give her to an orphanage. The girl became hysterical of fright and started to pee in her sleep at night. Sharofat has also had kidney problems because of severe stress, and often had nightmares. She wakes up in a cold sweat, re-experiencing the humiliation she encountered in her dreams.

At that time Hassan incriminated himself under torture, unable to withstand the torture with an electric shock.

...Eight months later, in May, Hassan was released because they found the real killer. Three policemen were brought to trial and sentenced to prison time.

The Coalition against Torture was established to help victims of torture, their loved ones, and the people who seek justice. You can support us.

For Khatlon and GBAO:  +992 98 787 66 66

For Sogd Region: +992 98 787 33 33

For Dushanbe and DRS:  +992  98 708 76 76

The material has been prepared to mark the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, under the Strengthening Action on Prevention of Torture and Support to Human Rights Organizations in Tajikistan Project funded by the European Union.

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