DUSHANBE, August 16, Asia-Plus — A probable knew charge – illegal collection and spread of information about private life — that can be brought against three female reporters for the tabloid newspaper
Ovoza
will also be legally unfounded like those two previous ones brought against them,, Tajik lawyer Farrukhsho Junaydov said in an interview with Asia-Plus.
According to him, international norms provide for a notion “popular person” and life of person belonging to this category should be public (transparent).
Moreover, Tajik singer being on tour of Afghanistan was representing culture of her people, Tajikistan and her behavior was assessed by the journalists as undermining the prestige of the country,” said the lawyer, “They had the right to advance their opinion on this issue and they did not violate the law. In my opinion, in this case, the singer’s behavior should had been discussed, including through media.”
Junaydov believes this case has political causes rather then simply “illegal collection and spread of information about private life” charge, which the law enforcement agencies try to bring against the journalists. “There ought not to forget about national interest of the country by which the journalists were guided,” Junaydov said.
As it had been reported earlier, in addition to two charges, brought against them, three female reporters for the tabloid newspaper
Ovoza
, Farangis Nabiyeva, Muhayo Nozimova, and Saida Qurbonova (editor of
Ovoza
), could face another charge under Article 144 of Tajikistan’s Criminal Code – illegal collection and spread of information about private life, Asia-Plus has learned at the Dushanbe prosecutor’s office.
The first deputy Dushanbe prosecutor, Sayfiddin Mahsiddinov, told Asia-Plus that a prosecutor’s office in Dushanbe’s Firdavsi district, which is currently investigating this case, would probably bring this charge against the reporters.
We will recall that Farangis Nabiyeva and Muhayo Nozimova coauthored the critical article of singer Raihona titled “Raihona pi-pi-pi Afghoniston” (Ovoza, # 25, June 21, 2007).
On July 11, Raihona lodged an application to the Dushanbe city prosecutor’s office, claiming the article by Muhayo Nozimova and Farangis Nabiyeva had allegedly defamed her. The journalists face charges under Article 135, Part 2 (defamation) and 136, Part, Point “A” (insult) of Tajikistan’s Penal Code.
If convicted, the journalists could face up to two years in prison on each of these charges.
