KHUJAND, August 17, 2011, Asia-Plus – Today senior officials of the National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan will hand relatives of the arrested reporter Mahmadyusuf Ismoilov funds collected by the reporters in support of the arrested journalist’s family.
According to Abufattokh Vokhidov, who coordinates NANSMIT’s Monitoring Service, the campaign was initiated by this organization which started to collect funds in June this year. The campaign was later supported by such media associations as the Union of Journalists, Media Alliance of Tajikistan and heads of some NGOs, reporters from print and electronic media, national and international media organizations. Organizers have collected 6000 Somoni.
Resident of Asht region Mahmadyusuf Ismoilov, the journalist from the “Nuri Zindagi” weekly newspaper, was arrested in November 2010 for alleged slander and instigation of racial and national enmity. The trial has been suspended until the results of linguistic expertise are ready.
The arrested reporter is being detained at the Khujand’s #2 temporary detention center since last year.
