DUSHANBE, September 17, 2009, Asia-Plus — A book about Tajik known journalist and public figure Otakhon Latifi, entitled “The School of Mastership,” is being presented in Dushanbe today.
Tajik specialists in media such as Ibrohim Usmonov, Payvand Gulmurodzoda, Jovid Muqim and some others made significant contribution to researching works of Otakhon Latifi.
The book, having a circulation of a 1,000 has been published under support of the Media Program of the Tajik Branch of Open Society Institute/Assistance Foundation (OSI/AF-Tajikistan). The book copies will be distributed to universities, media organizations, international organizations, NGOs and libraries.
Known Tajik journalists, university lecturers, as well as representatives of media organizations and non-governmental organizations are attending the event. The presentation participants will consider issues related to many-sided talent of Otakhon Latifi and his role in development of Tajik journalism.
Otakhon Latifi (1936-September 22, 1998) was a noted journalist and politician from Tajikistan. He was born at the town of Panjakent. Under the Soviet Union, he was both
Pravda
and
Izvestiya’s
correspondent in Tajikistan at various times. He also served as head of Tajik Journalists’ Union.
Latifi branched into politics in 1989, becoming deputy chairman of the Tajik Council of Ministers. He became involved in the peace process that followed the country”s bloody post-independence civil war. In 1992, he became Deputy Prime Minister, as part of Tajikistan”s national reconciliation government. Over time, Latifi became a prominent opposition figure, as a senior member in the United Tajik opposition (UTO). This led to a period in exile in Tehran and Moscow between 1992 and 1997.
On his return to Tajikistan in September 1997, he chaired the panel for legal issues under the National Commission for Reconciliation (CNR), a role, which he continued until his death. On September 22, 1998, Latifi was shot at point blank range outside his apartment in Dushanbe.
His murder sparked condemnation from both the government and opposition, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and the non-government organization Human Rights Watch. His death was also mentioned in
Time Magazine
.
