Torture of Mahmadali Hayit is allowed by the government

The National Committee for the Release of Political Hostages and Prisoners of Tajikistan is extremely worried about the health condition of Mahmadali Hayit, the deputy head of IRPT, as a result of continued torture. Not ending torture of this political prisoner testifies to the gross violation of rights and dignity of citizens in Tajik prisons and inhuman treatment of prisoners by prison warders.

Notwithstanding the fact that Tajik and foreign media wrote about it many times and human rights organizations called on Tajik authorities to stop the ill-treatment of prisoners, not only situation has not improved, but in contrary prisoners and their relatives have been tortured even more.

Ignoring these complaints and demands testifies that behind such treatment of prisoners stand the authorities of Tajikistan itself, which thus carries out dishonorable reprisals against political opponents.

International human rights organizations such as the UN Working Group and the UN Human Rights Committee, Human Rights Committee, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Freedom Now, Committee Norwegian Helsinki, Freedom House, Global Advocates, International Partnership for Human Rights and Association for Human Rights in Central Asia called the case against Mahmadali Hayit politically motivated and demanded from the Tajik authorities to release him immediately and unconditionally. However, unfortunately, the Tajik government not only did not take these requirements into account, but also increased the torture of Mahmadali Hayit.

The National Committee for the Release of Political Hostages and Prisoners of Tajikistan urges the Tajik government to immediately stop torture against Mahmadali Hayit and others.

In case these demands are not met, our committee is ready to use other ways and means of conveying the message to the government, — through organizing protests near embassies and, also near representatives of influential international organizations, so that the matter of encouraging torture by the Tajik government would be considered at the highest international level.

Our committee also demands the provision of legitimate full visits to relatives of Mahmadali Hayit and other political prisoners.

The National Committee for the Release of Political Hostages and Prisoners of Tajikistan

September 9, 2019,

Warsaw, Poland