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http://ijnet.org/opportunities/90595

Tajik authorities will be employing a new tool in their long-running effort to keep tabs on all things religious.

The country’s Religious Affairs Committee has announced that, in cooperation with the state-backed Islamic Council, it is compiling a list of some 60 topics deemed suitable for sermons, and will soon distribute the list to imams across the country.

But critics, notably activists from the opposition Islamic Renaissance Party, have condemned the decision, decrying it as an attempt by the state to curtail imams’ rising influence and support among their followers, especially the young.

Addressing the controversy, Religious Affairs Committee deputy head Mukhtor Mavlonov said that the endeavor was intended to help promote Islamic values while at the same time lessening the threat of terrorism and extremism in society.

Mavlonov explained that the list of subjects for sermons focused mainly on virtues, such as respect for parents and kindness to neighbors. «They are composed of Islamic teachings on ethics, on how to raise children and teach them honesty, trustworthiness, friendship, and other moral values,» Mavlonov said.

WATCH: In August, President Emomali Rahmon warned that foreign religious schools are indoctrinating Tajik students with radical Islamist ideology, and urged parents of madrasah students to bring them home.
The list, expected to be delivered to imams this month, is to be used throughout the year, and imams have been instructed to conduct their sermons in keeping with the recommended topics.

Hamdullo Rahimzoda, imam of Dushanbe’s Central Mosque, believes there is no need for such a list. «The topics we choose for sermons have always been about moral values anyway, because Islam is all about ethics and good deeds,» he says.

National Hits

Mosque sermons in Tajikistan are conducted once a week, before Friday Prayers, and usually last for an hour. The sermons have become hugely popular in Tajikistan in recent years, and attract thousands of people.

Mullo Abdurahim, the imam of Qazoqon Mosque in Dushanbe, says the number of people attending Friday Prayers in his mosque is much higher than other days, «because they especially come to listen to sermons.»

«I don’t need any help in choosing topics for homilies,» Mullo Abdurahim adds. «Judging by the fact that the mosque fills with people, who arrive an hour early, around noon, I think my sermons are appropriate and acceptable to people.»

Sermons often turn into question-and-answer sessions, where people ask the imam’s advice on how to resolve their problems, such as marital or inheritance issues.

Some preachers have become so popular that people record their sermons, which make their way to wider audiences in the form of DVDs and CDs sold in the bazaars. Sermons by Eshoni Nuriddin, imam of Turkobod mosque in the Vahdat district outside Dushanbe, and Hoji Mirzo, an imam from the southern Kulob region, have become nationwide hits.
To the Tajik authorities, however, the two prominent imams may be better-known for occasionally stepping beyond religious and ethical issues to discuss politics. They have become outspoken critics of some government policies, most notably the official ban on the Islamic head scarf in schools and offices.

Hikmatulloh Saifullozoda, an analyst from the Dushanbe-based think tank Dialog, says that the authorities are not keen to see government critics gain more influence.

«Compact discs of some sermons are very well-liked among people. And as you know, these discs were not recorded and distributed by the imams, but by people who liked sermons by Eshoni Nuriddin, Hoji Mirzo, and other prominent imams,» Saifullozoda says.

«There is a demand for such products. The authorities don’t want these [imams] to gain eminence on a national scale. They want to keep these imams under control, giving them a manual for a 15-minute-long speech with no right to transgress the boundaries.»

Risk Of Extremism?

The Tajik authorities have long been criticized for putting pressure on religious and Islamic institutions. At least 10 mosques, including the Ispechak and Qazoqon prayer houses, have been closed down in Dushanbe in recent weeks, with city officials saying they lacked operating licenses.

However, Mullo Davlat Mirzoev, imam of the Ispechak Mosque, claims that officials have for years turned down his efforts to officially register the mosque.

Islamic clothing, including the head scarf commonly worn by women, is banned in schools, while long beards and Islamic hats worn by men are frowned upon.

But government officials reject the criticism, saying the country’s citizens enjoy religious freedom.

The country has almost 300 grand mosques and 27 central city mosques.

The authorities recently ordered the return some 1,500 students from foreign madrasahs after the country’s president, Emomali Rahmon, warned they run the risk of falling into hands of preachers of terrorism and extremism.

Education officials and the Religious Affairs Committee say the returning students will be tested on their religious knowledge, and depending on the outcome will be placed in domestic, and officially approved, madrasahs or the country’s Islamic University.

RFE/RL’s Tajik Service correspondents Kayumarsi Ato and Khurshedi Hamdam contributed to this report

By Farangis Najibullah, RFE/RL

Источник: http://www.rferl.org/content/tajikistan_government_orders_mosques/2271961.html

Date:10/01/11 — 12/01/11
Internews Tajikistan
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4 January, 2011
Dushanbe

The Coalition of the Tajik media organizations recently formed for protection of professional rights and journalists – The Committee of 29 September – has declared its voluntary dissolution in connection with main tasks.

In October 2010, a group of media managers, representatives of media and public organizations and particular activists created a media coalition, which was named “The Committee of 29 September”. This name is related to the date of the beginning of the unprecedented pressing of the Tajik independent mass media.

On 29 September 2010, the authorities blocked access to two local and three foreign web sites (Avesta.Tj; Tojnews.Tj and Tjknews.com; Ferghana.Ru; Centrasia.Ru accordingly). A few days later, the Tax Committee officials accompanied by the state TV crews held inspections of all private printing houses countrywide, after which the latter refused to provide their services to three private newspapers – Farazh, Nigokh, and Paykon. These actions were also accompanied by statements of the Minister of Defense accusing the private media of provocations and “jetting a crisis” upon the background of a complicated military-political situation. There was another particular statement about censoring of the contents of all periodicals prior to printing.

Members of the Committee promised to coordinate their activities and undertake all possible legal actions in order to return the situation to the previous state and terminate censorship.

It should be noted that the main participants of the Committee – representatives of the four blocked online sources and one association, NANSMIT – have undertaken joint actions to accomplish the tasks. These actions have resulted in the following:

— a statement addressed to the head of the state and his direct subordinates;
— a statement addressed to the international human rights bodies and foreign governments;
— a wide-scale public information campaign focused on the problems in the area of the freedom of speech (development of a web blog; social network pages; launching of banners; a series of interviews in foreign online media and TV);
— preparation of claims and legal actions against the government bodies exercising and supporting pressure against the independent media;
— negotiations with parties involved.

These actions have caused an international resonance and essential feedback in the Tajik government and non-governmental organizations. Gradually, the web sites were unblocked; the newspapers Nigokh and Farazh resumed their publications.

By 1 January 2011, the Committee fully accomplished its tasks. The attempts to limit the media freedom are neutralized by the Committee; the local media work in normal mode. Thus, the Committee decided to declare its voluntary dissolution.
Along with that, the media and other organizations, the former members of the coalition henceforth, jointly and individually, will keep protecting the indispensable rights of citizens on access to information. The web site of the coalition – http://tjk29.livejpurnal.com and the e-mail address – komitet29@gmail.com will be valid for further activities and consolidation of the media community to keep informing the public about the problems and the progress of the parties, former members of the coalition, as well as about the monitoring of rights in the media.
The created coalition, its success and victories have proven that the media community is a serious public force able to influence the processes of democratic development and civil rights.
Steering Committee

www.nansmit.tj

Published on 30 December 2010

Figures in 2010
57 journalists killed (25% fewer than in 2009)
51 journalists kidnapped
535 journalists arrested
1374 physically attacked or threatened
504 media censored
127 journalists fled their country
152 bloggers and netizens arrested
52 physically attacked
62 countries affected by Internet censorship
Fewer killed in war zones
Fifty-seven journalists were killed in connection with their work in 2010, 25% fewer than in 2009, when the total was 76. The number of journalists killed in war zo- nes has fallen in recent years. Significantly, it is becoming more and more difficult to identify those responsible in cases in which journalists were killed by criminal gangs, armed groups, religious organizations or state agents. “Fewer journalists were killed in war zones than in preceding years,” Reporters Without Borders secretary- general Jean-François Julliard said. “Media workers are above all being murdered by criminals and traffickers of various kinds. Organized crime groups and militias are their leading killers worldwide. The challenge now is to rein in this phenomenon. The authorities of the countries concerned have a direct duty to combat the impunity surrounding these murders. If governments do not make every effort to punish the murderers of journalists, they become their accomplices.”
Journalists as bargaining chips
Another distinguishing feature of 2010 was the major increase in kidnappings of journalists. There were 29 cases in 2008, 33 in 2009 and 51 in 2010. Journalists are seen less and less as outside observers. Their neutrality and the nature of their work are no longer respected. “Abductions of journalists are becoming more and more frequent and are taking place in more countries.” Reporters Without Borders said. “For the first time, no continent escaped this evil in 2010. Journalists are turning into bargaining chips. Kidnappers take hostages in order to finance their criminal activities, make governments comply with their demands, and send a message to the public. Abduction provides them with a form of publicity. Here again, governments must do more to identify them and bring them to justice. Otherwise reporters – national or foreign – will no longer venture into certain regions and will abandon the local population to their sad fate.” Journalists were particularly exposed to this kind of risk in Afghanistan and Nigeria in 2010. The case of French TV journalists Hervé Ghesquière and Stéphane Taponier and their three Afghan assistants, held hostage in Afghanistan since 29 December 2009, is the longest abduction in the history of the French media since the end of the 1980s.
No region of the world spared
Journalists were killed in 25 countries in 2010. This is the first time since Reporters Without Borders began keeping these tallies that journalists have been murdered in so many countries. Almost 30% of the countries (7 in total) were African countries: Angola, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Rwanda, Somalia and Uganda. But the deadliest continent by far was Asia with 20 cases, and this was due above all to the heavy toll in Pakistan, where 11 journalists were killed in 2010. Of the 67 countries where there have been murders of journalists in the past 10 years, there are eight where they keep recurring: Afghanistan, Colombia, Iraq, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, and Somalia. These countries have not evolved; a culture of violence against the press has become deeply rooted there. Pakistan, Iraq and Mexico have been the three most violent countries for journalists during the past decade. The passing years have brought no changes to Pakistan, with journalists continuing to be targeted by Islamists groups or to be the collateral victims of suicide bombings. This total of 11 killed was the highest of the year. Iraq saw a return to earlier levels of violence with a total of seven journalists killed in 2010 as against four in 2009. Most of them were killed after the United States announced that all of its combat troops had been withdrawn in August. Journalists are caught in a trap between the different sectors – including local authorities, those involved in corruption and religious groups that refuse to accept media independence. In Mexico, the extreme violence of the drug traffickers affects the entire population including journalists, who are particularly exposed. This has a major impact on reporting, with journalists reducing their coverage of crime stories to the minimum in order to take as few risks as possible. In Central America, three were killed in Honduras in 2010 in connection with their work. Politically-motivated violence since the June 2008 coup d’état has com pounded the “traditional violence” of organized crime, a major phenomenon in this part of the world. In Thailand, where newspapers are able to enjoy relative independence despite recurring press freedom violations, 2010 was a very tough year. Two foreign journalists, Fabio Polenghi of Italy and Hiroyuki Muramoto of Japan, were killed in clashes between government forces and Red Shirts (supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra) in Bangkok in April and May. The shots that killed them were very probably fired by the members of the army.
Two journalists killed in Europe
Two journalists were murdered in European Union countries – Greece and Latvia. Neither murder has so far been solved. Social and political instability is having an impact on the work of the media in Greece, where Socratis Guiolias, the manager of Radio Thema 98.9, was gunned down with an automatic weapon outside his home in southeast Athens on 19 July. The police suspect a far- left group calling itself Sehta Epanastaton (Revolutionary Sect) that emerged in 2009. In Latvia, a country with a calmer environment for the press, Grigorijs Nemcovs, the publisher and editor of the regional newspaper Million and owner of a local TV station of the same name, was shot twice in the head in the southeastern city of Daugavpils while on his way to a meeting on 16 April.

Even the internet no longer a refuge
Reporters Without Borders is continuing to investigate the June 2010 death of the young netizen Khaled Mohammed Said, who was arrested by two plain-clothes police officers in an Internet café, taken outside and beaten to death in the street. There were reports that his death was prompted by a video posted online that incriminated the police in a drug deal. Autopsy reports attributed his death to a drug overdose, but this was belied by photos of his body. The number of arrests and physical attacks on netizens in 2010 was similar to previous years. Harassment of bloggers and censorship of the Internet have become commonplace. There are no longer any taboos about online filtering. Censorship is taking new forms: more aggres- sive online propaganda and increasingly frequent use of cyber-attacks as way to silence bothersome Internet users. Significantly, online censorship is no longer necessarily the work of repressive regimes. Democracies are now examining and adopting new laws that pose a threat to free speech on the Internet.
Journalists killed

Exile – the last resort
Many journalists flee abroad to escape violence and oppression. A total of 127 journalists from 23 countries did this in 2010. The exodus from Iran continues. For the second year running, it was the biggest source of fugitive journalists – 30 cases registered by Reporters Without Borders in 2010. The Horn of Africa continues to shed journalists. Around 15 fled Eritrea and Somalia in 2010. The year also saw the forced exile of 18 Cuban journa- lists, who had been jailed since March 2003 and who were released on condition that they immediately leave for Spain.

http://en.rsf.org/journalists-in-2010-targets-and-30-12-2010,39188.html

In December 2010 the NANSMIT Monitoring Service received 17 reports. Eleven of them describe the factual situation in the media in the light of socio-legal and political environment; five reports describe direct violations of rights of media professionals; and one report describes conflicts and accusations against the media and journalists.

I. PECULIARITIES OF POLITICAL, SOCIAL, ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGAL CLIMATE IN THE COUNTRY DEFINING THE FACTUAL SITUATION IN THE MEDIA

1. Public speeches and statements of superior officials defining the factual situation in the mass media

15 December
Emomali Rakhmon, President of Tajikistan, Moscow, Russian Federation

Speaking at the meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in Moscow, the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rakhmon stressed the importance of information security. (The Najot weekly, #50, 15.12.2010, with a reference to BBC).

In particular, the President said that “Tajikistan is a reliable adherent of the joint countering of crimes in the area of information and information technologies”.

Enhancement of the legislation in the area of information security must be one of priorities of joint activities within the frameworks of CSTO.

2. Factual situation in the media

6 December
Imruz News, private newspaper, Dushanbe

The first daily newspaper Imruz News has resumed its publication. The newspaper had a two-week break because of financial difficulties, said Isfadiyori Nazar, chief editor of the outlet.

“We analyzed our financial problems and restructured three units; however, we did not reduce the staff, and all employees have their own workloads”, — said the editor.

The first daily newspaper came off the press for the first time on 30 August 2010. The daily printout of the information-analytical newspaper is 3 thousand copies.

8 December
Gulnora Amirshoeva, Vetacherny Dushanbe weekly, Dushanbe

On the eve of the Forum of the European and Asian Media, the newspaper Sobytiya (#54, 08.12.2010) published an interview with chief editor of the Tajik weekly Vetacherny Dushanbe Gulnora Amirshoeva who shared her opinion about the Tajik journalism.

Amirshoeva says that the Tajik journalism has its own specific problems, such as inactivity and poor development of the civil society, which hinders pluralism of opinions. People are reluctant to share their opinions with the media. Journalism has lost its main functions behind financial problems; it is “booked” by the authorities or foreign sponsors.

The Tajik media experience acute shortage of professionals. The old teaching methodologies in universities are not in compliance with requirements in the media. Another problem is a poor coverage of the audience and the lack of commercial opportunities for the media, i.e. the network for selling of media products. The electronic media also cannot convey important messages to the audience – in view of the insufficient power supply in remote areas.

3. Amendments to existing legislation and new draft laws aggravating the media environment

3 December
All media

The lower chamber of the Tajik parliament created a special working group in charge of developing the final draft of Tajikistan’s media law. The working group comprises parliamentarians, government officials and representatives of the civil society organizations.

4. Journalists protecting their civil and professional rights

1 December
The Committee “29 September”, Dushanbe

On 1 December, most of the Tajik media informed about the meeting of the Committee called “29 September”. The new public organization was created by managers of the leading Tajik media. On 30 November, the coalition convened a meeting to discuss the situation and suggest new measures in order to reinstate legality and justice in the media environment.

It was noted that the situation has not changed in the last few weeks, and media professionals are still facing serious impediments to their activities. In November, newspapers as Farazh and Paykon experienced difficulties with printing facilities. Participants of the meeting developed a number of actions for the next few weeks. The Committee states that the national government should interfere and rectify the situation.

1 December
All media, Dushanbe

On 1 December, representatives of Tajik media and human rights organizations sent an official appeal to the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbaev whose country is currently presides in OSCE. The appeal contains a request of assistance to prevent violations of human rights and media freedom, which, in particular, concerns the problem of pressure exerted by the government on private media.

“The main goal of this action is to attract attention of heads of the OSCE member states to the situation in Tajikistan’s media environment and to resolve conflicts within the information space following the national legislation and Tajikistan’s commitments to OSCE”, — said Nuriddin Karshibaev, chairman of NANSMIT.

The official letter was presented to Ms. Minara Rakhanova, counselor of the Kazakh embassy in Dushanbe.

9 December
All media, Dushanbe

Tajik journalists and human rights activists received awards for their input in covering the issues of human rights and freedoms in 2010. The awards were given by two organizations – the British Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) in Central Asia and the Human Rights and Legality Bureau.

II. VIOLATION OF PROFESSIONAL RIGHTS

1. Accusations of libel and insult

13 December
Makhmadyusuf Ismailov, Nuri Zindagi weekly, Sughd province

On 23 November, the Sughd province law enforcement authorities in Asht district arrested a 50-year-old Makhmadyusuf Ismailov, correspondent of a private newspaper Nuri Zindagi (Ray of Life). The fact of arrest was publicly reported only on 13 December.

The journalist is suspected in crimes specified in Article 135 and 136 of the Tajik Criminal Code (libel and insult contained in public statements or in mass media) and Article 250 (extortion).

Observers say that Ismailov’s arrest is related to a publication in the Istiklol weekly, which reveals misconduct of law enforcement officers and the absence of justice in Ast district.

Juma Mirzo, editor of Nuri Zindagi has confirmed the fact of arrest of his correspondent. The editor says that the Ast district prosecutor sent an official letter requesting copies of all articles, which Ismailov is the author of.

30 December
Reporters Without Borders

Reporters Without Borders called for the release of Makhmadyusuf Ismoilov, a newspaper reporter who has been detained arbitrarily by prosecutors in Khujand, in the northern province of Sughd, since 23 November.

Ismoilov was arrested at the behest of the regional prosecutor’s office one day after an article he wrote about its alleged corrupt and irregular practices was published in the newspaper Istikol. His detention is clearly designed to stop him working as regional correspondent.

He has often criticized the local authorities during the three years that he has worked as a Khujand-based reporter for various newspapers including the national weekly Nuri Zindagi. It is regrettable that the only response from the local authorities to his criticism it to arrest him. It is doubtful that regional prosecutor Anvar Kanoat’s investigation is impartial.

Ismoilov is charged under various articles of the criminal code with libel, insulting an official, inciting religious and racial hatred and blackmail. Nuriddin Karshiboyev, the head of the National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan (NANSMIT), says he is being prosecuted solely because of what he wrote.

The trial is due to take place at the end of January and the Sughd regional court has ordered that Ismoilov be detained throughout the pre-trial investigation. Nuri Zindagi editor Djumo Mirzo has received a letter from the prosecutor requesting copies of all the articles that Ismoilov has written for the newspaper.

Reporters Without Borders calls for Ismoilov’s release pending the start of the trial. It also supports NANSMIT’s call for a fair trial and respect for the right to an independent defence.

The situation of the media and access to information has still not returned to normal after the crackdown carried out by the Tajik authorities in September (http://en.rsf.org/tadjikistan-after-using-civil-war-spectre-to-15-10-2010,38552.html). Several news websites are still experiencing hosting problems and some newspapers, including Faraj and Paikhon, are still being harassed and having problems finding a printer.

16 December
Committee to Protect Journalists, NYC, USA

The Committee to Protect Journalists today denounced the imprisonment in northern Tajikistan of Makhmadyusuf Ismoilov, a reporter with the Dushanbe-based independent weekly Nuri Zindagi. Ismoilov was arrested in Sogd region on November 23, but the regional press first reported on the case on Monday. Ismoilov is currently being held in a pretrial facility in the city of Khujand, according to the local press.
The Dushanbe-based National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan said Ismoilov was criminally charged with defamation and insult through the media (two separate counts). If convicted, Ismoilov faces up to two and a half years in prison. Authorities have not named a plaintiff in the indictment.

Nuriddin Karshiboyev, the media association’s director, told CPJ he believes Ismoilov was arrested in retaliation for his reporting. Ismoilov consistently criticized the regional government, law enforcement agencies, and the judiciary for alleged mismanagement, poor social and economic policies, and abuse of power, Karshiboyev told CPJ. According to Karshiboyev and local press reports, regional prosecutors asked Nuri Zindagi to provide them with all the articles Ismoilov had written for the weekly since he joined the newspaper in 2008.

“We call on Tajik authorities to drop all these politicized charges against Makhmadyusuf Ismoilov and release him at once,” CPJ Europe and Central Asia Program Coordinator Nina Ognianova said. “Tajikistan must decriminalize its defamation and insult laws in order to bring itself in line with international norms for press freedom.”

Karshiboyev told CPJ that he has studied Ismoilov’s publications in detail and has not found any instances of insult or defamation.

CPJ is a New York–based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide. For more information, visit www.cpj.org.

III. CONFLICTS. VIOLATIONS INCRIMINATED TO THE MEDIA AND JOURNALISTS

1. Protection of honor, dignity and business reputation

8 December
Millat weekly, Dushanbe

Court hearings on the lawsuit by the Ministry of Agriculture against the Tajik non-government weekly Millat are adjourned (Millat, #49, 08.12.2010).

The judge Dilorom Abdurakhimova told the media that the court needs additional information and facts for proper investigation of the case.

The Ministry initiated the suit because of the publication in Millat titled «The Ministry of Agriculture is the most corrupt government agency”.

The Ministry demands a moral compensation in the amount of 1 million Somoni (about $230 thousand).

This report is based on compiled materials from the media and private information presented by correspondents of the NANSMIT Monitoring Network

Coordinator of the Monitoring Service
Abdufattokh Vokhidov

Project Manager
Nuriddin Karshibayev

REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS / REPORTERS SANS FRONTIÈRES

Press release: http://en.rsf.org/tajikistan-provincial-reporter-held-for-past-28-12-2010,39172.html

28/12/10

TAJIKISTAN

Provincial reporter held for past five weeks for covering corruption

Reporters Without Borders calls for the release of Makhmadyusuf Ismoilov, a newspaper reporter who has been detained arbitrarily by prosecutors in Khujand, in the northern province of Sughd, since 23 November.

Ismoilov was arrested at the behest of the regional prosecutor’s office one day after an article he wrote about its alleged corrupt and irregular practices was published in the newspaper Istikol. His detention is clearly designed to stop him working as regional correspondent.

He has often criticized the local authorities during the three years that he has worked as a Khujand-based reporter for various newspapers including the national weekly Nuri Zindagi. It is regrettable that the only response from the local authorities to his criticism it to arrest him. It is doubtful that regional prosecutor Anvar Kanoat’s investigation is impartial.

Ismoilov is charged under various articles of the criminal code with libel, insulting an official, inciting religious and racial hatred and blackmail. Nuriddin Karshiboyev, the head of the National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan (NANSMIT), says he is being prosecuted solely because of what he wrote.

The trial is due to take place at the end of January and the Sughd regional court has ordered that Ismoilov be detained throughout the pre-trial investigation. Nuri Zindagi editor Djumo Mirzo has received a letter from the prosecutor requesting copies of all the articles that Ismoilov has written for the newspaper.

Reporters Without Borders calls for Ismoilov’s release pending the start of the trial. It also supports NANSMIT’s call for a fair trial and respect for the right to an independent defence.

The situation of the media and access to information has still not returned to normal after the crackdown carried out by the Tajik authorities in September (http://en.rsf.org/tadjikistan-after-using-civil-war-spectre-to-15-10-2010,38552.html). Several news websites are still experiencing hosting problems and some newspapers, including Faraj and Paikhon, are still being harassed and having problems finding a printer.

http://en.rsf.org/tajikistan-provincial-reporter-held-for-past-28-12-2010,39172.html