DUSHANBE, October 13, 2012, Asia-Plus — The department to oversee the implementation of law in penitentiary institutions at the Prosecutor-General’s Office has instituted criminal proceedings over the death of Hamza Ikromzoda under Article 322 of Tajikistan’s Penal Code – negligence, Ms. Gulchehra Kholmatova, a lawyer representing the injured party, told Asia-Plus in an interview.
“The investigation is under way and we should receive the results of the medical examination soon,” Kholmatova said, noting that she is going to press for institution of proceedings under the provisions of Article 143” – torture.
“The body of Hamza Ikromzoda carried traces of torture, including burns caused by a heated iron,” the lawyer noted.
Hamza’s relatives also claim that he was tortured.
We will recall that Hamza Ikromzoda was sentenced to eleven years in prison in 2011. Later, his jail term was reduced by thee years under amnesty law. Hamza Ikromzoda, 27, died in Dushanbe’s penal colony YaS No 3/1 on September 20.
A Tajik anti-torture coalition on September 28 called on the government to thoroughly investigate the death of an inmate allegedly tortured in Dushanbe’s penal colony and bring those guilty to justice.
The Coalition says it is not the first case of the death caused by use of torture against detainees and inmates in detention facilities and jails. The statement lists six other suspicious deaths in custody.
