DUSHANBE, April 20, 2013, Asia-Plus — Freedom House calls on the government of Tajikistan to investigate thoroughly and without prejudice the beating of Mahmadali Hayit, deputy head of Tajikistan’s Islamic Revival Party (IRP).
A statement released by Freedom House notes that “according to press reports, Hayit Khait, the deputy head of the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan, Tajikistan’s largest opposition party, was attacked the night of April 19 near the entrance to his home in Tajikistan’s capital Dushanbe. The perpetrators fled the scene. Hayit has been hospitalized and is receiving medical care.”
“Tajikistan is currently preparing for a presidential election in November of this year. President Emomali Rahmon, who has ruled the country since 1994, has not yet announced if he will run again. The IRP has come under increasing persecution in the past twelve months as the election draws near. In July, a regional leader of the party in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region was murdered during a military operation. Another local leader from Gorno-Badakhshan is currently being tried behind closed doors in Dushanbe for organizing mass disorders during the military operation. Freedom House urges the international community and the United States government to raise the issue of persecution of the IRPT at the highest levels with the government of Tajikistan.”
