The Committee on Religious Affairs (CRA) has reportedly not conducted examination in the cases of the arrested journalists, charged with extremism and membership in the banned political parties and movements.
Deputy Chairman of the CRA, Abdurahmon Vahhobzoda, told reporters in Dushanbe on July 25 that criminal proceedings instituted against journalists Daler Imomali, Abdullo Ghrubati, Zavqibek Saidamini and Abdusattor Pirmuhammadzoda are not of a religious nature, and therefore, “no religious opinion was issued in these cases.”
“We have learned about these cases from media the press. These cases are not of the religious nature, and therefore, no one of these cases has been submitted to our Committee for conducting religious examination,” Vahhobzoda said.
Recall, at least four journalists and bloggers have been detained in Tajikistan over the past several weeks, with some accused of being involved in extremist activities and participating in extremist organizations.
The latest update on the journalists’ case came on July 19 when police announced that blogger Abdusattor Pirmuhammadzoda had been charged with publicly calling for extremist activities. If found guilty, he could face up to five years in prison.
Pirmuhammadzoda was detained in Vahdat Township, 15 kilometers east of Dushanbe, on July 9. A day earlier, police in Vahdat arrested independent reporter Zavqibek Saidamini and charged him with participating in an extremist group.
According to prosecutors, the charge stems from Saidamini’s links to two banned opposition parties, the Islamic Renaissance Party and Group 24. According to some sources, he has repeatedly denied supporting any political group.
Saidamini and Pirmuhammadzoda, who are both former employees of the state television and radio company, have been active on various social-media platforms, including YouTube, in recent years.
On June 15, police in Dushanbe arrested the bloggers Daler Imomali and Abdullo Ghurbati, who focus on social and economic issues in the country.
Imomali was charged with having links to banned organizations, tax evasion, and disseminating false information.
Ghurbati is accused of assaulting a police officer. He is also charged with being member of the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT), which has been banned in Tajikistan since 2015, when it was designated a terrorist organization.
International groups, including Human Rights Watch and the Committee To Protect Journalists, have called on the Tajik government to release the reporters and end its campaign against the free press.
