DUSHANBE, October 6, 2010, Asia-Pus — Ms. Tazarf Nasimova, the chairperson of the department for international cooperation within the Ministry of Education, says Minhojiddin Karimov, chairman of the Tajik Diaspora in Novosibirsk, has denied a statement made on behalf of the Tajik Diaspora in Novosibirsk against Tajik Minister of Education Abdujabbor Rahmonov.
“During a meeting with Tajik delegation in Novosibirsk, Mr. Karimov presented his apologies,” said Nasimova, “He says that the Tajik Diaspora did not make any statement and was not going to make such a statement and unknown persons used his name to suit their own ends.”
According to her, Karimov said they were not related to similar statements made in the press and Internet on behalf of them and the Diaspora supported the policy of the government and the policy of the ministry of education.
We recall that a statement made on behalf of the board Tajik Diaspora on September 21 noted that representatives from Tajik Diaspora intend to meet with Tajik Minister of Education Abdujabbor Rahmonov who was in Novosibirsk on September 21-22 to attend the third session of education ministers from member nations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
The letter, in particular, said Mr. Rahmonov must answer why he ordered to turn girls and women in hijab out of the ceremony of celebrating opening of new lyceum in Dushanbe, calling them “monkeys.”
“What right has he to affront Tajik women, our sisters? We send our official appeal to the secretariat of the SCO session with solicitation to objectively estimate actions of Tajik minister of education. Violating the Constitution, Abdujabbor Rahmonov caused moral damage, insulted honor and feelings of our mothers,” the letter states. We don’t know who that woman was and who those schoolgirls were, but we are sure that they are citizens of Tajikistan. Only for this, Minister Rahmonov must make the amende honorable to them and resign! The Tajik Diaspora in Novosibirsk applies to human rights organizations of Tajikistan asking to provide legal assistance in resolving this issue. We are ready to hire Russian lawyer who will represent the insulted women and schoolgirls.”
