Khujand prison riot
Encyclopedia
The Khujand prison riot began on 14 April 1997 when prisoners at Khujand Men's Correctional Labor Colony 3/19 in Khujand
, Tajikistan
began to protest living conditions and perceived injustice in the prison system. Security forces put down the protest on 17 April in what Human Rights Watch
has called a "massacre." The Tajik government says 24 prisoners were killed and 35 were wounded, but human rights
organizations and former Prime Minister Abdumalik Abdullajanov
have estimated as many as 150 people were killed.
, and Shakhristan, demanding the arrest of those who killed Ashurov, up-to-date information as the case progressed, and the firing of Kulyabi officials in the regional government. Protestors later asked for the press to report on the demonstrations on television, control of humanitarian aid, and the designation of Khujand as a free economic zone. The protests went on for ten days with people in Khujand camping out at night. People held signs saying "Down with Emomali Rakhmonov!" and "Uninvited guests go away!" Police arrested Ikrom Ashurov, Akhmajon's brother, on charges of "banditry" and extortion after he participated in the protests.
Local and national government officials negotiated in the city government building surrounded by police officers, members of the Interior Ministry, and the Presidential Guard.
began distributing food in an emergency program after starvation, malnutrition, and a lack of medical care led to the deaths of many prisoners. The ICRC and the government both said the prison's conditions were no worse than any other prison in Tajikistan.
The Chairman of the Leninabad Regional Executive said that for stealing two bags of flour someone is sentenced to eight years imprisonment, whereas drug traffickers are sentenced to two years imprisonment. One prisoner, a seventeen-year old who later died during the riot, had stolen a book from Isfara city library. The court sentenced him to seven years in prison.
A local journalist said the government tried to limit access to information about the riot.
Khujand
Khujand , also transliterated as Khudzhand, , formerly Khodjend or Khodzhent until 1936 and Leninabad until 1991, is the second-largest city of Tajikistan. It is situated on the Syr Darya River at the mouth of the Fergana Valley...
, Tajikistan
Tajikistan
Tajikistan , officially the Republic of Tajikistan , is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia. Afghanistan borders it to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east....
began to protest living conditions and perceived injustice in the prison system. Security forces put down the protest on 17 April in what Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
has called a "massacre." The Tajik government says 24 prisoners were killed and 35 were wounded, but human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
organizations and former Prime Minister Abdumalik Abdullajanov
Abdumalik Abdullajanov
Abdumalik Abdullayevich Abdullajanov is a Tajikistani politician. He served as the Prime Minister of Tajikistan from September 21, 1992 to December 18, 1993. He resigned as Prime Minister to become Tajikistan's first ambassador to Russia....
have estimated as many as 150 people were killed.
Ashurov protests
In May 1996 assassins killed Akhmajon Ashurov, a popular Khujandi businessman. Ashurov owned several cafés and tea houses and paid for free meals in schools and for senior citizens. Many believed members of the Kulyabi clan had killed Ashurov, prompting demonstrations throughout the Khujand region; at least 20,000 in Khujand and hundreds in Istaravshan, Kanibadam, IsfaraIsfara
Isfara is a city in Sughd Province in northern Tajikistan, situated on the border with Kyrgyzstan. It has a population of 40,600 . The city is capital of Isfara district.-History:...
, and Shakhristan, demanding the arrest of those who killed Ashurov, up-to-date information as the case progressed, and the firing of Kulyabi officials in the regional government. Protestors later asked for the press to report on the demonstrations on television, control of humanitarian aid, and the designation of Khujand as a free economic zone. The protests went on for ten days with people in Khujand camping out at night. People held signs saying "Down with Emomali Rakhmonov!" and "Uninvited guests go away!" Police arrested Ikrom Ashurov, Akhmajon's brother, on charges of "banditry" and extortion after he participated in the protests.
Local and national government officials negotiated in the city government building surrounded by police officers, members of the Interior Ministry, and the Presidential Guard.
Conditions
Prisoners initially demanded medical care and trials for those awaiting sentencing. They complained about unfair sentencing and wanted improved living conditions. At the time of the riot there were between 800 and 1,000 prisoners in the prison; twice the maximum number of prisoners allowed. In June 1996 the International Committee of the Red CrossInternational Committee of the Red Cross
The International Committee of the Red Cross is a private humanitarian institution based in Geneva, Switzerland. States parties to the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols of 1977 and 2005, have given the ICRC a mandate to protect the victims of international and...
began distributing food in an emergency program after starvation, malnutrition, and a lack of medical care led to the deaths of many prisoners. The ICRC and the government both said the prison's conditions were no worse than any other prison in Tajikistan.
The Chairman of the Leninabad Regional Executive said that for stealing two bags of flour someone is sentenced to eight years imprisonment, whereas drug traffickers are sentenced to two years imprisonment. One prisoner, a seventeen-year old who later died during the riot, had stolen a book from Isfara city library. The court sentenced him to seven years in prison.
A local journalist said the government tried to limit access to information about the riot.