U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, recently sent a letter to the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, urging him to cease acts of domestic and transnational repression against political opponents and religious minorities. The letter comes ahead of Chair Cardin hosting a full committee hearing on transnational repression on December 6.
In a statement issued on December 5, Senator Cardin says that “as Tajikistan seeks to benefit from increased international engagement, foreign trade and investment, the government of Tajikistan mast make progress towards fulfilling its commitments under the UN Declaration of Human Rights and the Helsinki Final Act and other commitments undertaken in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).”
Senator Gardin stressed that “there are persistent reports of arbitrary arrest, denial of judicial due process, as well as acts of violence including torture, assault, and even instances of murder of journalists, political dissidents, as well as community and religious leaders."
“The ongoing crackdown on ethnic and religious minorities, their local organizations and leaders, in the Gorno-Badakhshan region, in particular, is especially troubling,” the statement said.
Senator Gardin urges the Tajik government “to immediately end the repression of peaceful demonstrators, community leaders, journalists and activists in Tajikistan.”
“The United States wants to strengthen its growing partnership with Tajikistan. Bolstering human rights and the rule of law will reap long-lasting benefits for Tajikistan through increased influence, foreign investment, tourism and trade,” the letter says.
