KHUJAND, June 19, 2009, Asia-Plus — 190 various crimes have been committed by Sughd women since the beginning of this year, according to the Sughd police directorate.
Of those 190 crimes, 111 concern organization and maintaining of a house of prostitution and procuring that are punishable under Article 239 of Tajikistan’s Penal Code.
Besides, 29 cases of theft and 36 cases of fraud committed, two murders, five cases of drug trafficking, 9 cases of deliberately inflicting serious or minor injuries, and 98 other crimes committed by women have been reported over the report period, the source at the Sughd police directorate said.
In all, 1,449 crimes, including 450 thefts, 286 grave crimes, 180 cases of fraud, 111 cases of hooliganism and 83 drug trafficking cases, have been registered in northern Tajikistan over the first five months of this year.
In the meantime, Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service reported on June 16 that officials in the southern Khatlon province say 10 percent of all crimes in the region this year have been committed by women.
Yusuf Huseinov of Khatlon”s prosecutor”s office told RFE/RL”s Tajik Service that economic hardship is leading many women to commit crimes. He said 210 inmates are currently in Tajikistan”s only women”s penitentiary in the southern city of Norak.
Last year, some 300 female inmates were released from jail or their terms were reduced due to an amnesty by Tajik President Emomali Rahmon. The local prosecutor”s office told RFE/RL that 23 of the women amnestied and released last year were rearrested shortly after their early release for different crimes.
