In Tajikistan, prisoners’ relatives complain about torture

“Five people filed a complaint to the Human Rights Ombudsman in Tajikistan and complained about torture towards their relatives, who were accused of organizing a revolt in the strict regime colony No. 3 in Khujand” the Civil Society Coalition Against Torture and Impunity in Tajikistan reports.

Recall that in November 2018, there was a revolt of prisoners in strict regime colony located in Khujand. As a result of the revolt’s suppression, 21 prisoners were killed, more than 100 were injured. A criminal case was opened on the fact of the incident, and the so-called organizers of the revolt were transferred to the Dushanbe pre-trial detention center. At the end of July, 32 people appeared before the court. The main organizer of the revolt Amirali Davlatov was sentenced to life imprisonment. The terms of imprisonment for others is unknown. Lawyers, citing a non-disclosure subscription, remain silent.

Relatives of the so-called organizers – Sodygov Farkhod, Kadyrov Nusratullo, Boboev Daler, Shomurodov Safroniddin and Khamidov Alisher – claim that the confession during the investigation was obtained by using physical pressure.

“Our relatives do not consider themselves guilty of this crime, since all their confessions were extracted with the use of torture,” the complaint notes. “When we met with relatives, traces of torture were visible on their bodies, and they said that they did not participate in the organization of the riots, but they were forced to take the blame on themselves, severely beating and connecting to electricity.”

In their appeal, relatives of the prisoners asked the Ombudsman of Tajikistan to visit the penal colony No. 3 and investigate the situation.

The former Head of the colony No. 3, Fayzullo Safarzod, taken into custody immediately after the revolt, was sentenced to 4 years in May of this year. He was convicted of abuse of authority and negligence. 2 years in prison were received by 7 other employees of this colony.

After the revolt in the colony, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon dismissed the Head of the entire penitentiary system of Tajikistan, Izatullo Sharifzoda, nicknamed Zorro, who held this post for 12 years.

Tajik authorities accused representatives of extremist groups in organizing a revolt. However, human rights organizations believe that it was the result of a cruel treatment with prisoners.