Document - Tajikistan: Further information on Fear of imminent execution/torture

PUBLIC AI Index: EUR 60/004/2004

13 May 2004

Further Information on UA 154/04 (EUR 60/003/2004, 26 April 2004) Fear of imminent execution/torture

TAJIKISTAN Ibrogim Khusseynov (m)
Todzhiddin Butayev (m) aged 26
Akhmaddzhon Saidov (m)
Savriddin Pirov (m)

Executed: Rachabmurod Chumayev (m) aged 25
Umed Idiyev (m) aged 23
Akbar Radzhabov (m)
Mukharam Fatkhulloyev (m)

Rachabmurod Chumayev, Umed Idiyev, Akbar Radzhabov and Mukharam Fatkhulloyev were reportedly executed in April 2004. In both January and April, the United Nations Human Rights Committee had urged the authorities of Tajikistan to stay the executions of Rachabmurod Chumayev and Umed Idiyev whilst it considered their cases.

Ibrogim Khusseynov and Todzhiddin Butayev are still believed to be on death row and it is not clear whether they and other death row prisoners remain at risk of execution. Amnesty International learnt at the beginning of May, that Savriddin Pirov’s death sentence had been commuted to a term of imprisonment, possibly as a result of international concern. Akhmaddzhon Saidov’s death sentence had been commuted to long-term imprisonment in November 2003.

The men were all members of an armed group headed by Rakhmon Sanginov, a former commander of the United Tajik Opposition (UTO). They were sentenced to death in February 2003 on charges of terrorism, banditry, illegal possession of firearms, hostage-taking and murder. Many of them were allegedly tortured and ill-treated whilst they were in custody awaiting trial.

On 7 May President Imomali Rakhmonov submitted a draft law to Parliament for members to consider "…..the suspension of carrying out the death penalty". This followed his earlier announcement on 30 April, that a moratorium would be introduced in Tajikistan in due course, during a speech at a joint session of both chambers of the Tajik parliament which was broadcast by national television. During his speech, President Imomali Rakhmonov stated that "a moratorium on carrying out the death penalty will be announced in the Republic of Tajikistan" and "a working group will be set up to prepare appropriate norm-setting and legal documents within the shortest possible period of time". He explained that "human life should be treated humanely. Man, his rights and freedom are great and inviolable values, and the right to life has a special place among them. In fact, the right to life is natural, and nobody has the right to deprive any other person of this right."

On 11 May, the Tajik news agency Asia Plus reported Dzhurakhon Kabirov, the head of the parliamentary committee on constitutional legality, legislation and human rights, as saying that the special working group had been set up, following the President's speech. The group consists of government officials, parliamentarians, academics and legal practitioners.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in English, Russian or Tajik or your own language:
- expressing grave concern at reports that Rachabmurod Chumayev, Umed Idiyev, Akbar Radzhabov and Mukharam Fatkhulloyev were executed in April 2004;
- welcoming the commutation of the death sentences of Savdriddin Pirov and Akhmaddzhon Saidov;
- urging the President to commute the death sentences of Todzhiddin Butayev and Ibrogim Khusseynov and all other death row prisoners;
- welcoming President Imomali Rakhmonov’s announcement on 30 April 2004 that a moratorium would be introduced in Tajikistan in due course;
- urging the authorities to ensure that the moratorium will include a ban on the issuing of death sentences and that all pending death sentences be commuted;
- calling for a full abolition of the death penalty.

APPEALS TO: (Please note that it can be difficult getting through to fax numbers in Tajikistan. If a voice answers, repeat 'fax' until you hear the signal; otherwise please leave your fax machine on auto-redial if possible. Fax machines may be switched off outside office hours – six hours ahead of GMT)

President of the Republic of Tajikistan
Imomali Rakhmonov; g. Dushanbe; pr. Rudaki 80; Apparat Prezidenta Respubliki; Prezidentu RAKHMONOVU I Sh; Tajikistan
Telegrams: Prezidentu Rakhmonovu, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
E-mails: primer@pds.td.silk.org (if your e-mail bounces, please send it by post)
Salutation: Dear President Rakhmonov

Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for constitutional legality, legislation and human rights
Dzhurakhon Kabirov; 734051 g. Dushanbe; pr. Rudaki, 42; Komitet po zakonodatelstvu i pravam cheloveka pri Majlis Oli Respubliki Tadzhikistan; Predsedatelyu Kabirovu Dzh.; Tajikistan
Telegrams: Predsedatelyu komiteta po pravam cheloveka MN MO, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Salutation: Dear Chairman

COPIES TO:
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan,
734051 g. Dushanbe; Rudaki 42; Ministerstvo inostrannykh del; Ministru NAZAROVU T.; Tajikistan
Faxes: + 992 372 23 29 64 / 21 18 08
E-mails: dushanbe@mfaumo.td.silk.org (if your e-mail gets returned, please send it by post)

and to diplomatic representatives of TAJIKISTAN accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 24 June 2004.

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Amnesty International, International Secretariat, 1 Easton Street, WC1X 0DW, London, United Kingdom