Entrenched practice of torture

Press Review Media in Tajikistan in September 2012.

For the first time in Tajikistan police officer had been condemned on charges of torture - an article that appeared in the Criminal Code of the country in March this year. The officer was sentenced to seven years of imprisonment on charges of torture and ill-treatment of 17-year-old boy, who was arrested on suspicion of theft. This news was published by almost all independent media in the country.

The weekly “Vecherniy Dushanbe” (№ 37 dated from September 11) writes that the lawsuit against the police officer of the Police Department of Yavan district, Mashrab Aliyev was held behind closed doors, according to the lawyers, Aliyev’s relatives threatened the victim’s relatives and his lawyers. As a result, the hearing was held in the Police Department of Javan district.

The newspaper “Ozodagon” (№ 37 dated from September 18) while informing about the case of the police officer from Yavan, reminded that in February this year in the frame of the program “Fight against torture in Tajikistan”, supported by the OSCE, two trust lines were established for the victims of torture and their families - 98,882 37 97 (for Dushanbe, Khatlon and RRS) and 98 882 37 96 (for the Sughd region).

The International organization of Amnesty International welcomes the verdict of Yavan district court, the newspaper “Asia-Plus” informed (№ 71 dated 20 September). “This is a positive sign that the authorities of Tajikistan are serious about putting an end to entrenched practices of torture. This is the first time an official has been charged with the crime of torture since the Article on Torture in line with international legal standards was introduced into the Criminal Code of Tajikistan in March of this year"- the organization said. Amnesty International also notes that this is the first case in Tajikistan, the victim was awarded adequate compensation for material damages  to cover the cost of his medical treatment.

However the next day the website of Radio “Ozodi” (Liberty) reported about the the death of 27-year-old prisoner Hamza Ikromzoda in Dushanbe Colony # 1.

According to the media reports, numerous bruises and other traces of beatings were find on the body of the prisoner, as well as there was a large burn-like bruise form of the iron on his body.

“The entire body and face were covered with black spots - traces of severe beatings. My brother was tortured with red-hot iron, traces of which were also seen on the body”,- said in an interview with “Ozodi” his brother Amir Ikromzoda.

The news agency “TojNews” referring to relatives of the deceased informed about the clashes between prisoners and staff members of the Colony # 1, where the deceased was serving his sentence.  The prison staff conducted night raids to the prisoners’ cells, demanding money from them.

“When Hamza and the other prisoners began to show dissent, they were punished, -the agency quotes the brother of Ikromzoda.  - I've had demanded two thousand dollars in order to transfer my brother from isolator to the prison. Later they requested one thousand, though we had no time to bring the money”.

However the authority of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Justice for Penitentiary System in RT in its interview denied the fact that Ikromzoda was tortured and reminded that the group of journalists which recently visited the prison also did not find any evidences of beatings and torture at the hands of prison staff.

The Head of the prison system, Izzatullo Sharifov said in interview with Radio “Ozodi” that Hamza Ikromzoda died as a result of suicide, and the traces found on his body – are the consequence of the first-aid provided by the prison’s doctors, who tried to save his life, after releasing him from the loops and who used the plastic bottles with hot water and electric shocks.

Aziza Asoeva,  Ikromzoda’s aunt informed “Ozodi” that there are dozens of photos, which demonstrate the signs of torture and beatings on the body of Hamza, and these tracks do not like as the effects of electroshock. She said that the black spots on the back and knees, show that he was severely tortured before death.

The newspaper “Tojikiston” (№ 39 from 27 September) in the article “Torture or suicide?” is quoting the doctors who claim that the use of a defibrillator leaves dark spots on the body, but not burns.

The weekly “Charkhi Gardun” (# 39 dated September 26) in its article “Death in the Prison # 1” writes that the Deputy Director of the National Forensic Center Furkat Ganiev has noted the following: “Meanwhile nothing can be said until the examination is over" and advised to address the investigator for the final results. The agency recalls that a year ago, presumably from the torture of the law enforcement agencies died Safarali Sangov, Ismoil Bachadzhonov and Bahromiddin Shodiev.

The weekly news agency “Millat” (# 39 from 26 September) in the article "Torturing the dead or alive? The mystery death of a prisoner” informed that the human rights organizations called on the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the death of a prisoner Hamza Ikromzoda. In their statement the human rights activists had noted that this is not the first time when young people die as result of ill-treatment and torture in the police offices, detention centers or prisons. Further, the names of the deceased detainees was listed, includig Safarali Sangov, Ismoil Bachadzhonov, Bahromiddin Chodiev, D.Murod, Ismonboy Boboyev, Khurshed Bobokalonov.

“Why could not the Head of the penitentiary system of Tajikistan Izzatullo Sharipov follow the example of his Georgian counterpart Khatuna Kalmahalidze and resign from his post?” – asks the newspaper “Ozodagon” (# 38 from 26 September) in the article “Rahmon also could become Saakashvili”. The Minister of Justice of Georgia resigned immediately after the video was posted in Internet, which demonstrated evidence of torture and violence in Tbilisi Prison. “There is no culture of resignation among the officials in Tajikistan”- writes the weekly. The author of the article suggests that the intervention of the President in investigating the death of a prisoner Hamza Ikromzoda will provide high rating for the case in the society on the eve of the next presidential election. "This is a path which way that accurately chosen by the Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili, declaring zero tolerance for human rights abusers," - says the newspaper “Ozodagon”.