Радио Озоди: Верховный суд — члены ПИВТ не подвергались пыткам

The article, published by Радио Озоди (Radio Ozodi) on 10 March 2016, reports on a statement by a Tajik Supreme Court judge denying allegations of torture of detained Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (ПИВТ / IRPT) members. Article reports that an anonymous Supreme Court judge involved in the trial told Radio Ozodi that torture allegations against 13 IRPT members held in pretrial detention were “baseless,” stating the trial was under the control of senior law-enforcement officials. The judge is quoted saying: “If there had been violence and torture, traces would have been visible.” Article reports the judge specifically denied torture of IRPT member Хикматулло Сайфуллозода (Hikmatullo Sayfullozoda), former chief editor of the IRPT newspaper “Наҷот” (Najot), about whom Freedom House had voiced concern on 7 March. The article lists the 13 IRPT leadership figures detained on 16–17 September 2015: deputy chairs Саидумар Хусайни (Saidumar Husayni) and Мухаммадали Хайит (Muhammadali Khait), as well as Абдукаххори Давлат (Abdukahhori Davlat), Рахматулло Раджаб (Rahmatullo Rajab), Зубайдулло Розик (Zubaydullo Rozik), Мухаммадали Файзмухаммад (Muhammadali Fayzmuhammad), Sayfullozoda, Киёмиддин Авазов (Kiyomiddin Avazov), Зарафо Рахмони (Zarafo Rahmoni), Махмадшариф Набиев (Mahmadsharif Nabiev), Абдусамад Гайратов (Abdusamad Gayratov), Саттор Каримов (Sattor Karimov) and Вохидхон Косиддинов (Vohidkhon Kosiddinov). Article reports that on 29 September 2015 the Tajik Supreme Court designated the IRPT as terrorist and extremist and banned its activities; IRPT and its leader Мухиддин Кабири (Muhiddin Kabiri) reject the designation. Article reports, citing international human rights organisations, that about 200 IRPT activists and supporters had been detained, and, citing the Association for Human Rights in Central Asia, lists at least 8 convictions including Хасан Рахимов (Hasan Rahimov) – 9 years, Зайниддин Юсупов (Zayniddin Yusupov) – 10, Асомиддин Абдурахмонов (Asomiddin Abdurahmonov) – 10, Таваккал Бобоев (Tavakkal Boboev) – 18, Рустам Эмомов (Rustam Emomov) – 17, Умаршо Давлатов (Umarsho Davlatov) – 15, Махмадали Исломов (Mahmadali Islomov) – 5, Завкибек Рахмонов (Zavkibek Rahmonov) – 4 years. The article references joint demands by Human Rights Watch and Norwegian Helsinki Committee to release political prisoners. Sources cited: Radio Ozodi, Freedom House, Human Rights Watch, Norwegian Helsinki Committee, Association for Human Rights in Central Asia.