KHUJAND, September 15, 2011, Asia-Plus — A court hearing resumes Friday on a lawsuit filed by Asht authorities against journalist Mahmadyusuf Ismoilov.
Ismoilov’s defense lawyer, Ms. Muhabbat Jourayeva, notes that no evidence supporting charges brought against her client has been produced so far.
Mahmadyusuf Ismoilov has been held in custody since November 23, 2010. Mr. Ismoilov is charged with inciting religious and racial hatred (article 189 of the criminal code), blackmail (Article 250), defamation (Article 135) and insult (Article 136) for what he wrote in various publications including the newspaper
Nouri Zindagi
about alleged corruption by local judicial and political officials.
We will recall that Reporters Without Borders (RWB) and the National Association of Independent Mass Media in Tajikistan(Nansmit) wrote to Tajik President Emomali Rahmon on September 7 asking him ensure that detained journalist Mahmadyusuf Ismoilov gets a fair trial and an immediate conditional release pending the outcome of the trial. RWB and Nansmit note that in order to respect the principle of the presumption of innocence, Mr. Ismoilov must also be granted provisional release without delay. “Pre-trial detention is a serious measure that seems out of all proportion in this case,” says the letter. “He is not in a position to put pressure on witnesses or eliminate evidence. Depriving Mr. Ismoilov of his freedom seems more like an act of personal revenge than an act of impartial justice.” “As president, you have a duty to ensure that Mr. Ismoilov is treated in a fair and equitable manner and that national and international rules of justice are respected. We trust that you will appreciate the important of our request and will take the appropriate action.”
Participants in a roundtable dedicated to International Day of Journalists’ Solidarity that took place in Khujand on September 8 decided to appeal to President Emomali Rahmon asking him to release Ismoilov from custody.
