Today came to light facts of torture and coercion against political prisoner Mahmadali Hayitov. Savriniso Juraeva, Hayitov’s spouse, recorded a video where she called upon the community and international human rights organizations. During her last appointment with Mahmadali Hayitov on March 9, 2019, she found out about the facts of systematic torture of her husband. Mahmadali Hayitov told his spouse that he is constantly requested to speak against the IRPT on TV and blame the party for involvement in extremist and terrorist crimes. All these demands are accompanied by torture and beating.
It is worth to remind that the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention examined the dossier of Mahmadali Hayitov and in April 2018 they recommended Tajikistan to immediately release the politician. Furthermore, the UN called on to carry an independent investigation into the circumstances of unjustified decision to sentence Hayitov to prison. The UN also called on to take measures against those who are responsible for violating Hayitov’s rights. The UN pointed out that according to legal norms, Hayitov has the right to exercise the right to be entitled compensation for damage inflicted on him. Almost a year has passed since this decision was made. However, not only didn’t the Tajik authorities react, but also, they continue torturing and bullying political prisoners.
Human Rights Vision Foundation reminds that Tajikistan is a country that is a member of the UN, OSCE, a country that signed large number of international agreements in relation to recognition and observance of human rights and freedoms, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners adopted in 1955 by the UN.
Human Rights Vision Foundation considers unacceptable the torture and coercion to provide knowingly false testimony, as well as the restriction of the right to medical assistance and interference with the privacy of citizens, regardless of their legal status.
The statement of Mahmadali Hayitov’s spouse demands an immediate objective investigation.
We demand from the Tajik authorities to establish an independent commission to investigate all cases of torture and inhuman treatment of country’s prison population. In this investigation we demand involvement of independent judicial medical examiners, representatives of Red Cross Committee in Tajikistan, OSCE and staff members of the UN Human Rights Committee.
Refusing to establish an objective investigation of the statement of Mahmadali Hayitov by the authorities of Tajikistan would be considered as a recognition of use of torture against him.
