DUSHANBE, August 2, Asia-Plus — The first deputy Dushanbe prosecutor, Sayfuddin Muhsiddinov, has confirmed that that the Dushanbe prosecutor’s office instituted criminal proceedings against Saida Qurbonova, editor-in-chief of the Dushanbe weekly
Ovoza
(Rumors), and two correspondents of this weekly, Muhayo Nozimova and Farangis Nabiyeva.
According to him, the criminal proceedings were instituted against the journalists on July 11, following an application lodged by variety singer Raihona, who accused them of distributing false information defaming her honor and dignity.
“However, it does not mean that the journalists are really guilty; the preliminary investigation is just going on,” the deputy prosecutor said.
In the meantime, Nourddin Qarshiboyev, the head of the National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan (Nansmit), said in an interview with Asia-Plus that “in this case, procedural norms of law were broken.” The criminal proceedings against the journalists were instituted on July 11 already, while they knew about that just now, he said.
“I have familiarized myself with the article and I may say with confidence that it does not contain direct insult or libel against the singer,” said the media watchdog head, “Moreover, in their article, the journalists referred to a concrete source of information.”
Qarshiboyev expressed hope that the issue will be settled within the framework of law, and Nansmit, for its part, is ready to provide legal assistance to the journalists.
We will recall that Raihona has lodged the application to the Dushanbe city prosecutor’s office after an article, titled “Raihona pi-pi-pi Afghoniston” (Ovoza, # 25, June 21, 2007), by Muhayo Nozimova and Farangis Nabiyeva allegedly defamed her.
The journalists face charges under Article 35, Part 2 (defamation) and 136, Part, Point “A” (insult) of Tajikistan’s Penal Code.
