Human rights in Tajikistan

Tajikistan
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Tajikistan
Foreign relations

Human rights in Tajikistan remain limited as corruption and brutal human rights offences in its government slows democratic and social reform. According to the US Department of State's report on Human Rights in Tajikistan, citizens do not enjoy many of their basic rights and have limited ability to change the government. Prisoners, especially, have few rights. There have been reports of torture, threats, and abuse of prisoners and detainees by security forces due, in part, to their ability to act with impunity. The denial of the right to a fair trial for those who stand accused of a crime is another issue and can often contribute to harsh and life-threatening prison conditions as well as the blocking of international monitor access to Tajikistan prisons. Pre-trial detention is typically longer than needed, and court proceedings are controlled by the prosecution. Prisons are overcrowded, and the incidence of tuberculosis and malnutrition is high among inmates. Other restrictions include restrictions on media, freedom of speech, freedom of association, and freedom of worship, as well as restrictions on political opposition. Registration and visa difficulties, violence and discrimination against women, human trafficking, and child labor have also been reported.[1] Tajikistan is reported as both a source and a transit point for trafficking women. [2]

Intimidation and killings of journalists

In the 1990s, dozens of writers and journalists were killed, or went missing, in Tajikistan. Together with increasing attacks on journalists, the 2005 parliamentary elections brought increased closures of independent and opposition newspapers. In 2003, the government blocked access to the only internet website run by the political opposition and in June 2014, YouTube was partially blocked by the government.[3]

Name change law

According to Ilan Greenberg, writing in the New York Times, in 2007: Tajikistan's president, Emomali Rahmon, stated that the Slavic "-ov" ending must be dropped for all babies born to Tajik parents. The policy comes in the context of recent policies intended to remove vestiges of Russian influence. Some Tajiks have expressed confusion or opposition at the denial of the freedom to choose a name for one's child. However, the president, Emomali Rahmon has stated that the name change should be up to the will of each individual, which was a response that did not make any sense, in light of the objections received.

Freedom of religion

Some activities of religious groups have been restricted by the requirement for registration with the State Committee on Religious Affairs. Islamic pilgrimages are restricted, and proselytizing groups such as the Jehovah's Witnesseshave suffered occasional persecution. Since October 22, 2007, Jehovah's Witnesses have had their activities banned by the government for the reason of neglecting army duty.[4]

Allegations of systematic violence against military conscripts

In June 2014 Global Voices Online reported that the practice of systematic violence against military conscripts (referred to as dedovshina) has risen to public awareness following a recent increase in incidences of manslaughter and suicides in the Tajik Army and the April 17 2014 death of Akmal Davlatova who was beaten to death by his lance sergeant, Farrukh Davlatov.[5][6] Kidnapping of recruits was said to be a common practice in Tajikistan and victims have sometimes videotaped their own kidnappings.[7][8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Human Rights Reports: Tajikistan". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 2016-10-19.
  2. ↑ https://iwpr.net/global-voices/rise-human-trafficking-tajikistan
  3. ↑ YouTube Partially Blocked In Tajikistan By RFE/RL's Tajik Service, June 10, 2014, http://www.rferl.org/content/youtube-partially-blocked-in-tajikistan/25416452.html
  4. ↑ Jehovah's Witnesses: Office of Public Information Authorized Site
  5. ↑ Tajikistan's Army Chokes Young Draftees to Death, Posted 10 June 2014 8:57 GMT , http://globalvoices.org/2014/06/10/tajikistans-army-chokes-young-draftees-to-death/
  6. ↑ Radio Free Europe, 11 июня 2014, Таджикистан, Дело о «поперхнувшемся хлебом» солдате направлено в суд, http://rus.ozodi.org/content/article/25411009.html
  7. ↑ YouTube, Published on Apr 11, 2012, видео, добавленное с мобильного телефона, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogYXVMin43A
  8. ↑ Tajikistan's Army Chokes Young Draftees to Death, Posted 10 June 2014 8:57 GMT , http://globalvoices.org/2014/06/10/tajikistans-army-chokes-young-draftees-to-death/

External links

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Library of Congress Country Studies website http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/.

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