Tajikistan Justice - The Times Of Central Asia

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Fortune-Telling

Tajikistan Proposes Ban on Fortune-Telling With Fines for Customers

The government of Tajikistan has submitted a legislative proposal to parliament that would ban the use of fortune-telling and other esoteric services, and introduce fines for clients, Asia-Plus reported. If passed, the amendments would add a new clause to Article 482 of the Code of Administrative Offenses titled “Use of services of a sorcerer, magician, or fortune-teller.” Under the proposed law, individuals caught seeking such services would face fines ranging from five to ten calculation indicators, equivalent to 375-750 somoni (approximately $40-80). This initiative is part of a broader crackdown on esoteric and mystical practices in recent years. In mid-2023, the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that citizens who visited fortune-tellers would be summoned by authorities and entered into a database containing their names and photographs. Officials said the goal was to curb demand and ultimately eliminate the practice. The number of individuals summoned has not been disclosed. Penalties for fortune-tellers themselves were significantly strengthened in 2024. Amendments to Article 482 increased fines for practitioners to 80-100 calculation indicators and introduced administrative detention of up to 15 days. In addition, criminal liability was introduced under Article 240 of the Criminal Code: repeat offenders may now face fines of 1,500-2,000 base units or imprisonment for one to two years. Previously, only administrative penalties applied. The government claims the measures are designed to combat fraud and protect citizens from exploitation. However, critics argue that the proposed restrictions could spark debate over personal freedoms and traditional cultural practices. In 2024, The Times of Central Asia reported that Tajik authorities were also considering the introduction of compulsory labor for up to six months as a punishment for engaging in fortune-telling, sorcery, or witchcraft.

Social Media

Tajikistan May Revisit Sentences for Social Media ‘Likes’ and Comments

Tajikistan may review criminal cases in which individuals were convicted solely for “likes” and other digital interactions on social media. This was announced on August 7 by Rustam Mirzozoda, Chairman of the Supreme Court of Tajikistan. Possibility of Sentence Review According to Mirzozoda, existing legislation permits the review of such cases, though most convictions to date have been based on additional charges. “If the sentence was handed down solely on the basis of ‘likes and reposts,’ the courts are ready to review such decisions,” Mirzozoda stated. He added that no appeals have yet been filed with Tajikistan's courts on this issue, and no cases have been reviewed. Navruz Odinaev, founder of the Khimoya law firm, previously explained to Asia-Plus that the Criminal Code allows for retroactive application of laws if they reduce penalties or decriminalize offenses. This means that recent amendments may apply not only to future prosecutions but also to previously issued sentences. Origins of the “Like Law” In 2018, amendments to Article 179 of the Criminal Code introduced penalties for public calls for terrorist activity and the justification of terrorism, including online actions. These changes allowed likes, reposts, and comments on extremist content to be treated as evidence of criminal involvement. Convictions under this article carried sentences ranging from 5 to 15 years. Similar amendments to Article 307 (“Public calls for extremism”) imposed prison terms of 3 to 12 years. President Rahmon’s Reversal In October 2024, President Emomali Rahmon publicly condemned the prosecution of individuals for social media interactions, describing the practice as excessive and misguided. “Recently, the authorities have considered the fact that some citizens like shared materials and videos on social media as evidence, which has caused them enormous difficulties,” Rahmon stated. “In other words, some authorities are unjustifiably bringing criminal cases against them, and these actions must be stopped.” His comments came amid growing scrutiny of citizens for engaging with content posted by religious or opposition figures. On May 14, 2025, Rahmon signed legislation decriminalizing digital reactions on social media, even those related to content previously deemed extremist or a threat to public order. What Prompted the Shift? According to Deputy Prosecutor General Umed Karimzoda, more than 1,500 people were imprisoned in 2024 for social media activity deemed extremist. Lawyer Ranjet Yatimov attributes the president’s policy reversal to several factors. He notes that prosecutions for digital expression have damaged Tajikistan’s international reputation, especially given its membership in global human rights organizations. Domestically, the increase in such cases has fueled public dissatisfaction and eroded trust in law enforcement. Legal ambiguities also played a role, as vague statutory language enabled selective enforcement, prompting urgent legislative reform.

Human Rights

‘No Complaints,’ Says Tajikistan Ombudsman Amid Allegations of Journalist Mistreatment

Representatives from the Office of the Human Rights Ombudsman in Tajikistan stated they have met with several imprisoned journalists and received no formal complaints from them. The announcement was made by Khusniddin Nidoev, deputy head of the department for civil and political rights protection, during a press conference on August 4. Visit to the Detention Facility According to Nidoev, he personally visited the “First Soviet” correctional colony on May 5, where he met with journalists Daler Emomali, Zavkibek Saidamin, Abdullo Gurbati, and Ahmad Ibrohim, editor-in-chief of the regional newspaper Paik. “We are in constant contact with them. Even during phone conversations with the heads of institutions, we ask about their condition, especially those whose names are widely covered in the media,” Nidoev said. He added that the journalists expressed satisfaction with their conditions and did not report any grievances. Relatives Raise Concerns However, relatives of other imprisoned journalists have reported troubling circumstances. The family of Abdusattor Pirmuahmadzoda, a blogger and former employee of Radio Sadoi Dushanbe, said they have had no contact with him since March. His brother, Abdukarim, told Asia-Plus that Abdusattor was placed in solitary confinement after he publicly questioned why his name was excluded from a list of candidates for amnesty during an official visit to the prison. Since then, neither his wife nor his children have been able to visit him, despite repeated requests. Nidoev confirmed that the ombudsman’s office met with Pirmuahmadzoda in 2024 while he was held in a Khujand prison but acknowledged that no such visit has occurred this year. He promised to investigate his current status. In a separate case, the wife of Zavkibek Saidamin, Mahfirat Khudoynazarova, reported in early July that her husband is suffering from a nervous condition and experiencing pain in his spine and eyes. “We sent him medicine. He is taking it. They said he was examined by an eye doctor and treated. But he still doesn’t feel well,” she told Asia-Plus. Meanwhile, the families of Daler Emomali and Ahmad Ibrohim have said their relatives are in stable condition, although they continue to object to their imprisonment. Sentences and Human Rights Reactions The prison terms for the journalists range from seven to over ten years. Ahmad Ibrohim was sentenced to 10 years and 4 months, Daler Emomali to 10 years, Abdullo Gurbati to 7.5 years, and both Abdusattor Pirmuahmadzoda and Zavkibek Saidamin to 7 years each. Appeals filed by defense lawyers and relatives have been rejected by higher courts, leaving the sentences in force. International human rights organizations, including Reporters Without Borders, have repeatedly condemned the imprisonments as politically motivated and called for the journalists’ immediate release. To date, Tajik authorities have not responded publicly to these demands. Since 2022, at least six journalists have been arrested and sentenced to lengthy prison terms in Tajikistan.

Konibodom Murders

Four Sentenced to Life Over Killings That Terrorized Tajikistan’s Konibodom

Four men have been sentenced to life imprisonment in connection with a series of murders that terrorized the northern Tajik city of Konibodom and surrounding areas throughout 2024. The announcement was made by Konibodom Chairman Davron Zokhidzoda at a press conference, as reported by Asia-Plus. However, he did not disclose the date of sentencing or provide further details, citing a lack of familiarity with the full investigation. On December 21, 2024, Tajikistan’s General Prosecutor’s Office announced the arrest of four suspects: 26-year-old Solehjon Khudoyberdiev, 27-year-old Akhadjon Tukhtaev, 36-year-old Bakhtiyor Ravshanov, and 28-year-old Manuchehr Odilov, all residents of Konibodom and nearby villages. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, between March and December 2024, a total of 23 people from seven families were killed in a wave of violent incidents that shook the region. The killings began on the night of March 28–29, when five members of the Sharifov family were found dead in their home. Authorities initially suspected the family patriarch, 65-year-old Mukhiddin Sharifov, but this theory was later dismissed. His son, Kabir Sharifov, told Asia-Plus that his father was ultimately recognized as one of the victims. The violence escalated in April with the murder of elderly couple Muzaffar and Inoyat Urmonov. Their relative, Sharifjon Ashurov, was arrested and sentenced to 20 years in prison in December, despite his family insisting he was at home on the night of the murders. In May, six people from two families, one Tajik and one Kyrgyz, were found murdered in the village of Sanchidzor. Authorities held Marat Sattarov, a 42-year-old school security guard, responsible. He was sentenced to life in prison by the Supreme Court in November. Tragedy struck again in December when six members of the Nematov family, including four children, were discovered dead in their home in Shurobqala. The father, Naimdjon Nematov, was found hanged in a nearby tree, while his wife and children showed signs of strangulation. Just days later, four more people from two families were killed in the village of Khisorak. The string of murders plunged Konibodom into panic. Reports of masked individuals seen at night stoked public fear, prompting residents to form watch groups and light fires for protection.

Afghan Refugees

Tajikistan Escalates Deportations of Afghan Refugees Amid Growing Concerns

Afghans who fled to Tajikistan are keeping a low profile lately. Tajik authorities have started the latest wave of deportations, and this one looks to be bigger than the previous sweeps. “You Have 15 Days” At the beginning of July, Afghan refugees and asylum-seekers in Tajikistan received an SMS warning them to leave the country within 15 days or else they would be forcibly deported. Tajikistan’s government has not commented on these messages, but the detention of Afghans started not long after the messages were sent. So far, the only two places mentioned where Afghans were being apprehended were the Rudaki district outside of Dushanbe and the town of Vahdat, 26 kilometers from Dushanbe. Hundreds of Afghan refugees are known to be living in these two areas. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service, known locally as Ozodi, reported that journalists who went to the houses of Afghan refugees in Vahdat were stopped and turned away by men in military uniforms outside the homes. Some Afghan refugees in Vahdat spoke with Ozodi under the condition of anonymity and said that on July 15, several vans arrived and took away “dozens” of Afghan men, women, and children. One said Afghan refugees are staying inside their homes, fearing that if they go out, they will be detained and deported. Police “take the documents from Afghans and set a date for them to leave the country,” the refugee said, “For more than 20 days we have practically not stepped outside at all.” Local Tajiks confirmed that Afghans were being taken away and that many of those who remained were searching for new places to live to avoid being apprehended. The Tajik authorities did not say anything about the deportations until July 19, when the state news agency Khovar posted a text from the Press Center of the Border Troops of the State Committee for National Security. The statement said some “foreign citizens” had entered Tajikistan illegally, and a “certain number” of them engaged in illegal activities such as “narcotics trafficking, [spreading] the ideas of extremist movements,” or providing false information or documents to acquire refugee status. The office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that as of the end of 2024, there were 9,902 Afghan refugees registered in Tajikistan. However, Afghans have been fleeing their homeland and coming to Tajikistan for many years, and some estimates for the number of Afghans in Tajikistan run as high as 13,000. Something else which remains unclear about the Afghan refugees in Tajikistan is how many are ethnic Tajiks. Ostensibly, most of them could be since the ethnic Tajik population of Afghanistan is mainly found in areas adjacent to Tajikistan. Many who came to Tajikistan 10 or 15 years ago have assimilated and are likely not refugees or asylum seekers, but may not have obtained Tajik citizenship. It is unclear how many Afghan citizens have been detained and deported since the start of July, but they are just the latest to be sent back to...

Afghan Refugees

Tajikistan Confirms Deportation of Afghan Refugees

Tajikistan has officially confirmed the deportation of Afghan refugees residing in the country, according to a statement issued by the Press Center of the Border Troops of the State Committee for National Security. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Tajik authorities launched a large-scale campaign to expel Afghan nationals, giving them just 15 days to leave the country. The move, which has been verified by the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR), has sparked fear and confusion among thousands of Afghan refugees, including those holding valid residence permits and asylum documents. Tajik officials justified the decision by citing what they described as a “difficult political and economic situation in the region and worldwide.” The statement emphasized that while many foreign citizens reside legally in Tajikistan for various reasons, some have entered the country illegally or committed serious violations of local laws. According to the authorities, inspections revealed multiple infractions, including illegal drug trafficking, the promotion of extremist ideologies, submission of false documentation for refugee status, violations of migration rules, possession of citizenship from third countries, and the use of Tajikistan as a transit route. “As a result, actions are being taken in accordance with national legislation to deport these individuals,” the statement read. “In particular, the deportation of a number of Afghan citizens is linked to these violations.” In January 2025, UNHCR publicly called on Tajikistan to halt the deportations, following reports that dozens of Afghan refugees were expelled in December 2024. The agency said that at least 80 Afghans were deported, many of whom had valid refugee documentation. UNHCR warned that such actions contravene international law and place individuals at risk. By the end of 2024, approximately 9,000 Afghan refugees were residing in Tajikistan.