Yet again death! Again in the custody!

Press Review for February 2013

During the month of February, 2013 the local news agencies continued to monitor the situation with torture in the country, responding to any cases of torture which demonstrate that the journalists started more actively cover these issues of torture and ill-treatment in the country. The fate of Khujand’ prisoners, possible extradition of ex-Premier of the Republic of Tajikistan Abdumalik Abdulodzhonov to Dushanbe, where he may be subjected to torture, another death in the custody and the official presentation of the report on torture in Tajikistan and Geneva – are the main issues of February.

On February 6, the weekly “Nigoh” reported about new case of prisoner’s death. “Another death in the custody. This time the 22-year old Makhmadsharif Nasriddinov, a detainee of Dushanbe colony # 1 died on the night of February 2, 2013”- the newspaper notes.

The author with reference to the Deputy Head of the Chief Directorate for Punishment Implementation of the Ministry of Justice of RT Bahrom Abdulhakov, had reported that the inmate has committed suicide. The article emphasizes that the deceased relatives deny rumors that Makhmadsharif was tortured after the prison guard discovered a mobile phone. According to his relatives Makhmadsharif was using the other inmates’ phones while calling home and did not have his own mobile. 

“There were some rumors after the prison guards discover the mobile phone Makhmadsharif was sent to the punishment cell, and his relatives were demanded one thousand somoni for his transfer back to the prison. Supposedly when the prisoner said that his family cannot pay this amount and they could complain about extortion, he was beaten”- writes “Nigoh”.

The same issue was also covered by another edition “Charkhi Gardun”. In its article “Yet again death! Again in the custody!” from February 6 the newspaper questioned the “suicides” cases in the colonies, and recalls the death of Hamza Ikromzoda, whose body was covered with clear signs of torture, though the administration of the penitentiary institution was spiking of “suicide” too.

The next day, on February 7on its website the Radio Ozodi informed that the relatives of the Khujand colony’s prisoners gathered in front of the Presidential Palace demanding the country authority to pay attention to the numerous cases of torture their children had been subject to in the prison.

Faizali Ikromov, father of Ikromzoda Hamza informed “Ozodi” that he just wanted to inform the President that the allegations of torture are not considered objectively.

Mehrinigor Rizoeva mother of Sunnatulo Rizoev - one of the Khujand prisoners, who was transferred there from Dushanbe, said that her son had been kept in the punishment cell for several days.

Nevertheless no one has accepted them on that day. According to Ozodi the written statements of Ikromzoda and Rizoev’s parents were submitted to the legal department of the Executive Office of the President for further consideration.

The following attempt by prisoners' relatives to arrange a meeting with the officials was more successful. On February 12, the website of TojNews informed that more than 20 prisoners’ relatives gathered outside the presidential administration to meet with the State Advisor of the President on Legal Issues Jumakhon Davlatov. “After five hours of waiting the were finally received for a meeting. Mr. Davlatov informed the relatives that the President Rahmon has no information on the issue of prisoners’ torturing and will consider this problem”- the newspaper notes.

However Mahmurod Rizoev father of the prisoner Sunatullo Rizoev, who already lost any hope, told the weekly “Faraj”: “I asked Jumakhon Davlatov to provide my son with medical aid first and secondly to create a special commission to review his case and release him from the prison. The article in the weekly # 20 was called quite rigid: “Mr.President! There are killing my son! ".

“Currently my son is in serious condition. His body been cutting with knives, and rights in the heart area they graved the name of Dilovar Arabov – the Head Khujand prison. If anything happens to my son, he will be held responsible. The last time I visited him, he did not have 11 teeth. And bruises ... He was severely beaten, in a way that perhaps, even the animal is not beaten”- said Mahmurod Rizoev.

In early February, one of the hot issues was the arrest of former Prime Minister of Tajikistan Abdumalik Abdullodzhonov in Kiev airport, where he arrived from the United States and his possible extradition to Dushanbe. On February 8 on its website the information agency “Asia-Plus” reported that human rights defenders from Central Asia, meeting in Kiev on February 6 at the Forum of human rights organizations of the region “Solidarity, cooperation and support” expressed their concern over the possible extradition of Abdullodzhonov to Tajikistan. In their statement it is noted that Abdullodzhonov’s extradition to Tajikistan, where “where the judicial system is the authorities’ instrument for reprisals against opposition politicians and civil activists, poses threat to his life.”

Abdullodzhonov’s issue was also touched upon by the Persian service of BBC. The news agency is reporting that: "It was informed that Abdullodzhonov was arrested at the request of the Tajik authorities by Interpol. The Tajik authorities have accused him of a number of serious crimes - terrorism, organizing a criminal group and treason. Human rights activists fear that, if extradited to his homeland Abdullodzhonov be subjected to torture”.

On February 14 the newspaper “Tojikiston” reported about the conviction of the police investigator of Shohmansur district Abdurakhmon Dodov of negligence, which was resulted in the prisoner’s death Bahromiddina Shodiev, and sentenced him to two years of imprisonment.

The publication quoted a lawyer of the victim party, who believes the sentence to be illegal and unfair, because the police officers who actually arrested Shodiev and who allegedly had been torturing him were not punished.

On February 11 the news agency “Asia-Plus” reported about the meeting of the Chairman of the Nation-wide Social-Democratic Party of Tajikistan, the famous human rights lawyer Rakhmatillo Zoirov with Amirkul Azimov Chairman of the Committees on Defense, Security and Law and Order and Mahmadali Vatanov Chairman of the Committee on Legislation and Human Rights of the Majlisi Namoyandagon MO RT.

During the meeting they discussed the issues raised in the appeal of Zoirov to the Parliament (with copies to National Security Committee, the Ministry of Justice, the Commissioner for Human Rights), in particular, on the issues of torture and violence in the prisons.

Parties noted that after making changes and amending the criminal legislation of the country, adoption of special law aimed at preventing and combating torture in prisons, there are noticeable positive changes in this direction.

Nevertheless, the cases of torture and violence against prisoners still exist and there is a need to respond to such facts. The leader of the SDPT noted with satisfaction that the meeting was a positive step from the Lower House of the Parliament in terms of mutual cooperation in the solution of the most pressing issues, such as protection of prisoners’ rights and freedoms.

Both Azimov and Vatanov supported Zoirov’s proposal about the necessity of preparation and organization of the parliamentary hearings on this issue, involving both decision-makers in the field, and the institutions of civil society, particularly in view of the state of implementation of the country’s legislation on torture, and noted this issue will be submitted for the parliament authorities’ consideration in the nearest future.

The website of Radio Ozodi reported that the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva is going to review the situation with torture in Tajikistan at the next meeting (25 February-22 March). According to the session’s agenda on March 4, the Special Rapporteur on torture Juan Mendez will present the official report on the situation of torture in Tajikistan, following his visit to the country in May last year.

On February 27 the weekly “Nigoh” published an analytical article on Torture. Author of the article points out: “It is no secret what the official representatives of Tajikistan - The Attorney General Salimzoda and the Ombudsman Alizoda are going to talk about in Geneva. It would have been better if they report here in front of the citizen or the Head of the country of what they have done in a reality to prevent torture and ill-treatment in the prisons”