DUSHANBE, September 5, Asia-Plus — A prosecutor’s office in Dushanbe’s Firdavsi district has formally brought charges against Muhayo Nozimova, female reporter from the tabloid newspaper
Ovoza
, under three articles of Tajikistan’s Criminal Code.
Nozimova said in an interview with Asia-Plus that she is charged with libel (Article 135, Part 2) and insult (Article 136, Part 2) in her reporting, as well illegal collection of information about private life (Article 144).
According to her, two other reporters, Saida Qurbonova (editor of
Ovoza
) and Farangis Nabiyeva, will be also summoned to the prosecutor’s office today and charges will probably be brought against them as well.
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.
The singer also sent a letter to the president and the parliament.
The
Ovoza
editor Saida Qurbonova noted that in their article, the reporters referred to the website
www.mynet.tj
as the primary source.
Media rights groups have criticized Tajik prosecutors for opening criminal cases against the reporters. Media advocacy groups in Tajikistan and Russia called on Dushanbe to stop prosecuting journalists for their professional activity.
On August 20, the reporters released an open letter to the president asking to intercede on their behalf after the Dushanbe prosecutor”s office formally initiated criminal libel case against them for “insulting” a singer. They argued that their joint article critical of Tajik singer Raihona Rahimova did not constitute grounds for opening a criminal case. The defended the singer’s right to defend her honor, dignity, and business reputation,” but said that the issue would be better settled by a civil court.
In the meantime,
Ovoza
has also decided to launch claim against Raihona Rahimova to the Dushanbe prosecutor’s office.
According to Nozimova, Raihona insulted them in one of interviews, calling them “pistai bemaghz” (waste pistachio; phrase that means shallow person) and “betamiz” (stupid, tactless).
