More than a month after the deaths of a man, his wife, and their four-year-old daughter in the northern Tajik city of Isfara, the cause of the tragedy remains unknown, raising growing concerns among relatives and the public.
Iskandar Shafeiyon (also known as Maliki), a former head of the organizational and human resources department of the Isfara city administration, died together with his wife Muattarakhon, 29, and their young daughter on the night of December 7, 2025. Authorities initially cited “poisoning” as the presumed cause of death, but say the final forensic conclusions are still pending.
Officials have not yet released the results of toxicological examinations, and relatives say the circumstances surrounding the incident appear suspicious.
According to an initial account from a source familiar with the case, all members of the family fell ill after dinner. By the time doctors arrived, Iskandar Shafeiyon, his wife, and one of their daughters had died. Two other children were taken to a hospital in Isfara in serious condition.
At the time, the Sughd regional health department said the cause of death would be determined through an investigation. However, more than a month later, no official findings have been made public.
On January 12, Mohammad Shafiev, the victim’s brother, told Asia-Plus by phone that the family has received no official response from the Isfara city prosecutor’s office, which they believe has opened a criminal case.
Meanwhile, Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service, known locally as Radio Ozodi, citing its own sources in the city prosecutor’s office, reported that no criminal case has been opened and that only a preliminary inquiry is underway. “The chemists have not yet provided the test results,” a source said.
According to the same source, samples have been sent to Uzbekistan for final forensic analysis. “Once the cause of death is determined, the information will be made public,” the source added.
“The family’s death looks mysterious”
Asia-Plus also spoke with a close relative of Muattarakhon, who requested anonymity, and shared details of the night of the incident.
According to the relative, Muattarakhon’s family tried to contact her repeatedly throughout December 7, but no one answered. Later in the evening, after 7:00 p.m., Iskandar Shafeiyon’s mother answered the phone and spoke while pretending to be Muattarakhon. Shortly afterward, she called again via WhatsApp and said her son’s health condition was poor.
“We told her to call an ambulance, but she said she didn’t know anyone in Isfara and didn’t know where to turn for help,” the source said. When asked to hand the phone to Muattarakhon, the woman said she was in another room and hung up.
Further calls went unanswered. Later, the couple’s seven-year-old daughter, Rukhshona, contacted relatives via a WhatsApp video call and showed her mother lying unconscious.
At around 11:00 p.m., Iskandar Shafeiyon’s mother informed Muattarakhon’s family that her son had died.
“We immediately left for Isfara and arrived after 1:00 a.m. When we entered the house, Iskandar’s body was in one room, while Muattarakhon and their four-year-old daughter were lying lifeless in another,” the source said.
An ambulance was then called, and at around 2:00 a.m. two other children—Sumayakhon, 6, and four-month-old Muhammadjon—were taken to the Isfara city hospital in critical condition. The eldest child, seven-year-old Rukhshona, and Iskandar Shafeiyon’s mother were not affected.
Relatives of Muattarakhon believe the deaths were not the result of accidental or natural poisoning and describe the incident as “mysterious.” They have appealed to the Sughd regional prosecutor’s office but say they have received no response so far.
According to the family, the apartment where the Shafeiyons lived in Isfara has been sealed, and authorities have not contacted them even once to inquire about the condition of the orphaned children.
These claims could not be independently verified. Attempts by Asia-Plus to speak with Iskandar Shafeiyon’s mother, who is considered a key witness, have so far been unsuccessful.
The three surviving children are currently staying with their maternal grandmother in Khujand, while Iskandar Shafeiyon’s mother is in Panjakent with her brother.
The bodies of Iskandar Shafeiyon, his wife, and their daughter were buried on December 8 in the village of Veshist in the city of Panjakent.
Iskandar Shafeiyon previously came to public attention after being injured during border clashes with Kyrgyzstan. He was later charged with fraud, fined, and dismissed from his post. In recent years, he had been engaged in private business.
