Members of Tajikistan’s lower chamber (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament have unanimously voted for mitigating punishment for incitement of racial, ethnic, regional or religious enmity.
A regular sitting of the Majlisi Namoyandagon, presided over by its head, Muhammadtoir Zokirzoda, took place on October 14.
Presenting amendments proposed by the government to the country’s administrative code to lawmakers, the Minister of Justice Muzaffar Ashouriyon noted that they were aimed at humanizing the country’s laws.
The amendments, in particular, stipulate that actions aimed at inciting racial, ethnic, regional or religious enmity, humiliating national dignity, as well as propagating the exclusivity of citizens on the basis of their attitude to religion, nationality or race are punishable by a fine of up to 5,800 somoni or an administrative arrest for a period of 5 to 10 days.
The minister further noted that persons re-committing the mentioned actions during a year after enduring a punishment could be imprisoned for a term of 2 to 5 years.
These actions had previously been punishable by up to five years in jail.
