DUSHANBE, August 30, Asia-Plus — Tajik Journalists’ Union and Tajik media watchdog, the National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan (Nansmit), on August 29 released a joint statement, expressing concern over a criminal prosecution against journalist Tursunali Aliyev for an article critical of local authorities in Sughd’s Jabborrasulov district published in the Uzbek-language weekly
Tong
on September 12, 2007.
The statement, in particular said that “…protecting interests of citizens, society and state, journalists become target of persecution for their professional activity.”
The first attempt to file libel suit against the journalist was made last year already; however, the Jabborrasulov prosecutor”s office considered the application and refused it in the absence of crime in the act.
Meanwhile, the Sughd prosecutor’s office formally initiated criminal libel case against Aliyev on August 9 this year.
According to the statement, legal experts hold that criminal case against Tursunali Aliyev was initiated by the Sughd law enforcement agencies to please separate local officials and intimidate the journalist.
