Human rights in Tajikistan
Encyclopedia
Human rights in Tajikistan remain poor. Corruption continued to hamper democratic and social reform. The following human rights problems were reported: restricted right of citizens to change their government; torture and abuse of detainees and other personsby security forces; threats and abuse by security forces; impunity of security forces; lengthy pretrial detention; denial
of right to fair trial; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; prohibited international monitor access to prisons; restricted freedom of speech, the press and media; restricted freedom of association; restrictions on freedom of religion, including freedom to worship; harassment of international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs); difficulties with registration and visas; violence and discrimination against women; trafficking in persons; and child labor.http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/sca/119141.htm Political opposition, and the press are heavily restricted.
The approach of the 2005 parliamentary elections brought increased closures of independent and opposition newspapers and attacks on journalists. In 2003 the government blocked access to the only Internet
website
run by the political opposition. Constitutional guarantees of a fair trial are not always observed, and torture
often is used against individuals accused of crimes. Pretrial detention often is lengthy, and prosecutors control court proceedings. Prisons are overcrowded, and the incidence of tuberculosis
and malnutrition
is high among inmates.
Violence against women is frequent, and Tajikistan is a source and transit point for trafficking
in women.
has stated that, the name change should be up to the will of each individual. http://www.ozodi.org/specialsarticletext/2007/3/090E3DEC-E566-40CD-A6B7-9C6703408444.html
are restricted, and proselytizing groups such as the Jehovah's Witnesses
have 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.
Denial of request
Denial of request is the refusal of one party to grant the request of another. Some acts that can be considered denial may include the refusal of a person or a group of people representing a company, organization, or government agency to provide what a client or one seeking to be a client has...
of right to fair trial; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; prohibited international monitor access to prisons; restricted freedom of speech, the press and media; restricted freedom of association; restrictions on freedom of religion, including freedom to worship; harassment of international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs); difficulties with registration and visas; violence and discrimination against women; trafficking in persons; and child labor.http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/sca/119141.htm Political opposition, and the press are heavily restricted.
The approach of the 2005 parliamentary elections brought increased closures of independent and opposition newspapers and attacks on journalists. In 2003 the government blocked access to the only Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
website
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
run by the political opposition. Constitutional guarantees of a fair trial are not always observed, and torture
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
often is used against individuals accused of crimes. Pretrial detention often is lengthy, and prosecutors control court proceedings. Prisons are overcrowded, and the incidence of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
and malnutrition
Malnutrition
Malnutrition is the condition that results from taking an unbalanced diet in which certain nutrients are lacking, in excess , or in the wrong proportions....
is high among inmates.
Violence against women is frequent, and Tajikistan is a source and transit point for trafficking
Human trafficking
Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings for the purposes of reproductive slavery, commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor, or a modern-day form of slavery...
in women.
Intimidation and killings of journalists
In the 1990s dozens of journalists were killed or went missing in Tajikistan.Name change law
According to Ilan Greenberg writing in the New York Times, in 2007, Tajikstan's president, Emomali Rakhmon [sic] 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 Soviet/Russian influence, while laws on this topic have existed since 1989. Some Tajiks have expressed confusion or opposition at the denial of the freedom to choose a name for one's child.http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/28/world/asia/28tajikistan.html However, the president, Emomali RahmonovEmomali Rahmonov
Emomalii Rahmon has served as the head of state of the Republic of Tajikistan since 1992, under the position of President since 1994.-Biography:...
has stated that, the name change should be up to the will of each individual. http://www.ozodi.org/specialsarticletext/2007/3/090E3DEC-E566-40CD-A6B7-9C6703408444.html
Freedom of religion
Some activities of religious groups have been restricted by the requirement for registration with the State Committee on Religious Affairs. Islamic pilgrimagesHajj
The Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is one of the largest pilgrimages in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so...
are restricted, and proselytizing groups such as the Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism, convention attendance of over 12 million, and annual...
have 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.
See also
- Capital punishment in TajikistanCapital punishment in TajikistanCapital punishment in Tajikistan is allowed by Article 18 of the 1999 Constitution, where it is described as punishment for "particularly serious crimes".The full wording of Article 18:In Russian:...
- Central Asia Health Review
- Human rights in AsiaHuman rights in AsiaHuman rights in Asia primarily rely on the protection and championing by States, non-governmental organizations, and individuals. Unlike Europe, Africa, and the Americas, Asia does not have an intergovernmental convention on human rights. In Asia, human rights are given much importance specially to...
External links
- Censorship in Tajikistan - IFEXInternational Freedom of Expression ExchangeThe International Freedom of Expression eXchange , founded in 1992, is a global network of around 90 non-governmental organisations that promotes and defends the right to freedom of expression....
- Report on Tajikistan 2006 - Amnesty InternationalAmnesty InternationalAmnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
- Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Tajikistan - US Department of State
- Record Breaking Winter Weather Hits Children in Tajikistan the Hardest Central Asia Health Review Feb. 17, 2008