Four out of five Tajik newspapers, which publication, allegedly, was supposed to be suspended, are published. On 4 August readers received the private weeklies – Ozodagon, Paykon, Millat and SSSR. According to the Asia Plus news agency, the fifth newspaper, Borgokhi Sukhan has come off the press as well.

Prior to that, some information agencies and Internet outlets said that the publication of the five weeklies is under threat. According to reports in the media, managers of the Mushfiki printing house (where these newspapers are regularly printed) warned about the inability of the next publishing – in view of particular technical reasons. However, unofficial sources said that the printing house received an order “from above” to exclude them from service – allegedly, because of criticism of government officials in their publications.

However, neither of human rights watchdogs, nor media organizations received any complaints from the newspapers concerning the violation of their rights. Some of the foreign media, in particular, the Russian daily Vremya Novostei presented the event “in a political light”.

“Regardless some problems of ethical character and the quality of information in the media, Tajik journalists are tackling very serious social, political and economic problems, very often “trading on forbidden ground” and presenting their civil position”, — said Nuriddin Karshibaev, chairman of NANSMIT. — “Particular officials are not happy about it, but they must be tolerant to criticism in the media”.

It should be noted that none of the five papers mentioned anything about the pressure against them in their publications on 4 August 2010, i.e. after the allegations about the violations of their printing rights.

The NANSMIT monitoring service keeps tracing the situation in the area of freedom of expression.

NANSMIT-TajFEN

DUSHANBE — Tajikistan’s only private university is suing the country’s education minister for defamation, RFE/RL’s Tajik Service reports.

Sadriddin Akramov, the head of the Institute of Technical Innovations and Communications (ITIC), told RFE/RL today that it filed a lawsuit against Education Minister Abdujabor Rahmonov on July 31 in a Dushanbe district court.

Akramov said Rahmonov described the ITIC in a letter to Tajik President Emomali Rahmon as a hotbed of antigovernment propaganda and political opposition.

The ITIC is known as the «American» university because it was founded by a Tajik-born U.S. citizen and is funded by grants from the United States and other Western countries. It has been under pressure from the Education Ministry to change its name since 2003, something it has done a few times.

In September 2009, the Education Ministry demanded its closure for three months for «technical reasons» to enable the ministry to check its documents and activities. But Akramov appealed to the district court last year and chose to keep the university open pending a court ruling.

Rahmonov said at a press conference last month that the Economic Court had upheld all the ministry’s complaints. He said the court ruled that the ITIC should be closed and its students continue their studies at other universities.

Akramov has demanded the Education Ministry compensate the ITIC for moral and material damage incurred as a result of the Economic Court ruling.

Akramov told RFE/RL he is convinced that the real reason the Education Ministry revoked the ITIC’s license is because its teaching staff includes some prominent opposition leaders and outspoken critics of the government.

A U.S. diplomat who has followed the case told RFE/RL on condition of anonymity on August 2 that he, too, thinks that is the reason the ministry has moved to close down the ITIC. He noted that the ministry has not yet provided any other convincing arguments for doing so.

Despite the ongoing dispute, 300 would-be students submitted applications to the ITIC this year.

One prospective student told RFE/RL that she appreciates the «high standard» of internationally focused education that is guaranteed at the institute and that she is sure it will not be permanently closed down.

http://www.rferl.org/content/Tajikistans_Sole_Private_University_Files_Lawsuit_Against_Education_Min

KULOB, Tajikistan — A court in southern Tajikistan has ruled that a regional leader of the opposition Islamic Renaissance Party and another man are not guilty of human trafficking, RFE/RL’s Tajik Service reports.

Judge Ilhom Komilov told RFE/RL the court in the town of Kulob did not find anything illegal in the activities of the two accused men.

Abdufattoh Abdukholiqov, who heads the opposition Islamic Renaissance Party branch in the Vose district of Khatlon province, told RFE/RL he was satisfied with the court ruling.

Davlat Najmiddinov, who heads the anti-organized-crime department in Kulob district, told RFE/RL in April when the criminal case was opened that Abdukholiqov and Nematullo Sharifov paid $500 to the mother of a 16-year-old girl whom they allegedly planned to sell to someone in Russia.

At the same time, Abdukholiqov told RFE/RL that the girl was his relative and that he was trying to help her by arranging a marriage for her in Russia. Abdukholiqov added that the $500 was the dowry that should be paid to any Muslim girl by her future husband.

The alleged trafficking victim’s sister, Parvina Sabzaeva, who police claimed had been trafficked to Russia earlier, told RFE/RL that Abdukholiqov had helped her to find a husband and a job and begin a life abroad.

She said the family asked Abdukholiqov to do the same for her sister.

The prosecutor’s office has 10 days to appeal the court verdict.

http://www.rferl.org/content/Tajik_Opposition_Politician_Acquitted_Of_Human_Trafficking_Charge/21192

ALMATY — A Kazakh journalist was sentenced today to 10 days in jail for throwing dung at the Almaty city court building, RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service reports.

Zhanna Baytelova’s action on August 2 was found by the Almaty administrative court to be an act of hooliganism. She pleaded not guilty to the charge because she said what she did was a «protest action.»

Baytelova repeatedly threw handfuls of manure at an entrance to the Almaty city court building to protest the court’s rejection of her lawsuit against Prime Minister Karim Masimov and two other politicians.

Baytelova had filed a case against Masimov, Senate speaker Qasymzhomart Toqaev, and lower house speaker Oral Mukhamedzhanov in the Zhetysu district court for what she termed their «illegal decision to sign the law on the ‘leader of the nation,'» which became official in mid-June.

The district court decided not to accept Baytelova’s case, so she took it to the Almaty city court, which refused her case on July 27. The law on the «leader of the nation» widened the rights and powers of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev and his relatives.

Baytelova, who works for the opposition newspaper «Golos Respubliki» (Voice of the Republic), told journalists after her verdict was pronounced today that she considers her sentence «a sign of solidarity between courts, as my action…was a protest against the Kazakh courts’ ‘illegal decisions.'»

http://www.rferl.org/content/Kazakh_Journalist_Jailed_For_Throwing_Manure_At_Courthouse/2118677.html

DUSHANBE — The privately owned Mushfiqi printing house in Dushanbe says that «technical problems» will prevent it from printing several independent weekly publications, RFE/RL’s Tajik Service reports.

The move has raised suspicions in light of past instances when political pressure from authorities is thought to have disrupted the print runs of other independent publications.
Mushfiqi manager Umed Sattarov said the weeklies in question are «Paikon,» «Ozodagon,» «SSSR,» «Millat,» and «Borgohi Sukhan.»

Sattarov told RFE/RL that Mushfiqi has asked those publications’ editors to find alternative printing houses.

«Our printing equipment is broken. We request that they temporarily print elsewhere. We have a very small press that we can only print our own publications with,» Sattarov said.

Editor Jumaboy Tolibov vowed that he would find an alternative means of circulating his «Paikon» publication.

Union of Journalists of Tajikistan head Akbar Sattor, who also owns a printing house, said that he is prepared to publish «Paikon» but only for a price that suits him.

Tajik lawyer Shuhrat Qudratov said that the Mushfiqi printing house has an agreement with these weeklies and must fulfill its obligations.

But Mukhtor Boqizoda, a former editor and the head of a local NGO that works to protect journalists’ interests, described Mushfiqi’s refusal as a message from the authorities that those weekly papers have overstepped government-imposed limits.

Boqizoda said that often when authorities or printing houses cite «technical problems,» the problems are in fact political. He recalled that in the past, non-government-sponsored newspapers like «Ruzi Nav» and his own «Nerui Sukhan» found themselves in similar situations and were unable to continue publishing.

http://www.rferl.org/content/Technical_Problems_Halt_Publication_Of_Independent_Tajik_Weeklies/21177

DUSHANBE — The leader of a madrasah and dozens of his students at his religious school in southern Tajikistan have been detained, RFE/RL’s Tajik Service reports.

Tajik officials said Mavlavi Abduqahor, who is also a religious leader, was detained over the weekend along with the students at the school in the Rudaki district south of the capital, Dushanbe.

Interior Ministry spokesman Mahmadullah Asadulloev told RFE/RL that Abduqahor was arrested for teaching without a license, charging tuition to his students, failing to adhere to school health and hygiene regulations, and for teaching children under 7 years of age — which Asadulloev said is the worst offense.

Abduqahor’s relatives told RFE/RL that his madrasah takes on additional students during the summer break.

They said Abduqahor and several students were arrested once before, a few weeks ago, but were later released.

The Interior Ministry said the detentions were carried out under the auspices of Operation Madrasah, which aims to ban all illegal religious schools in the country.

Some Tajik-based analysts say officials are trying to control all religious schools in an attempt to prevent the rise of radical Islam.

http://www.rferl.org/content/Tajik_Madrasah_Leader_Students_Detained/2116294.html

ALMATY — A Kazakh journalist threw dung at the Almaty city court building today to protest the court’s rejection of her lawsuit against Prime Minister Karim Masimov and other politicians, RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service reports.

Zhanna Baytelova had filed a case against Masimov, Senate speaker Qasymzhomart Toqaev, and lower house speaker Oral Mukhamedzhanov in the Zhetysu district court for what she termed their «illegal decision to sign the law on the ‘leader of the nation,'» which became official in mid-June.

The district court decided not to accept Baytelov’s case, so she took it to the Almaty city court, which refused her case on July 27.

The law on the «leader of the nation» widened the rights and powers of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev and his relatives.

Baytelova, who works for the opposition newspaper «Golos Respubliki» (Voice of the Republic), told journalists that by throwing dung at the court building she wanted to register her protest against the Kazakh courts’ «illegal decisions.»

http://www.rferl.org/content/Kazakh_Journalist_Throws_Manure_At_Almaty_Court/2116632.html

Stark differences have emerged in how the Kyrgyz media have covered the origins and aftermath of the interethnic violence that erupted the Central Asian country in mid-June.

In some cases, ethnic Uzbeks are vilified and accused of sole responsibility for the unrest that left more than 350 people dead and 400,000 displaced in the southern provinces of Jalal-Abad and Osh. Other coverage is notable for its failure to address the Uzbek side of the story, or to downplay the scope of the violence against ethnic Uzbeks.

Nationalistic rhetoric and open calls for violence have threatened to heighten interethnic animosity at a time when international organizations, foreign donors, and human rights groups are working with the interim government to calm the situation and prevent another outbreak of violence.

Sultan Jumagulov, a Bishkek-based independent media consultant, says several independent newspapers, including the independent Kyrgyz-language newspapers «Alibi» and «Apta,» took a decidedly pro-Kyrgyz stance from the beginning.

«When interethnic clashes in the south began, these papers started publishing materials under such slogans like ‘Kyrgyzstan For Kyrgyz people,’ ‘Our Fatherland Is In Trouble,» Jumagulov says. «And these publications had this mood of instigation against some minorities.»

Dangerous ‘Alibi’

Just days before interethnic clashes broke out in Osh on June 10-11, «Alibi» published an editorial on June 8, which contained inflammatory passages and was illustrated with a picture of a clenched fist:
Without any doubt, under the current circumstances Uzbeks will become even more impudent if we don’t attack them seriously…

We say so, because we heard several groups of Kyrgyz in Talas region say: ‘If Uzbeks in Jalal-Abad do not stop bothering the Kyrgyz, we will go there and put [Uzbeks] in their place…

Therefore, if [Uzbeks] don’t appreciate our hospitality, then the government along with people would have to properly attack Uzbeks.

Jumagulov says that «Alibi» and «Apta» have for some time been publishing material of an ultra-nationalistic nature. They would rhetorically ask why the Kyrgyz were «poor in their own country,» while «other nationalities were rich.» Alternatively, he says, they would ask why other nationalities were not «respecting» the Kyrgyz.

«Alibi,» a weekly based in Bishkek but distributed nationwide with a circulation of about 10,000, provides recent examples of content that could be read as a provocation to violence.

The July 13 editorial titled «‘Alibi’ Withdraws The Line Under This Argument» appears to pin blame for the violence on ethnic Uzbeks, the country’s largest minority, even if it they are not mentioned by name:
These other nationalities who started this war and murdered Kyrgyz people, then — being unable to defend themselves — ran away, would be put in their place by our very united efforts.

The coverage of mainstream Kyrgyz news agencies, such as «24kg» and «AkiPress,» both of which are privately owned and are published online in Kyrgyz, Russian, and English, have tended to downplay the extent of violence in the south.

While international media were quick to identify the interethnic nature of the violence, «24kg» and «AkiPress» adopted the terms «mass unrest» or «June events» and took care to avoid mention of the ethnicity of the two battling sides.

In recent weeks, international media have focused much of their coverage on how ethnic Uzbeks have been disproportionately targeted by police raids, arbitrary arrests, and even torture while in detention.

Reporting from Osh and Jalal-Abad by «24kg» and «AkiPress,» meanwhile, has generally focused on investigations into the origins of the unrest, the official number of casualties, local government appointments, and reconstruction efforts.

«Local people’s» anxiety about the possibility of future unrest is mentioned almost as an aside in a July 28 article published by «24kg» and titled, «The City Of Osh Remains The Most Painful Place In Osh Province.»

The day before, on July 27, the news agency did concede that there were «different explanations» for the unrest. The solitary comment of Human Rights Ombudsman Tursunbek Akun explained the situation by saying «most international organizations accuse Kyrgyzstan, including the Kyrgyz, of genocide of Uzbeks.»

No Coverage, No Problem

State-run broadcast media have been remarkable mainly for what has been lacking in their coverage. In the early days of the June violence, there was a scarcity of reporting of fighting in the south, and very limited coverage of the plight of ethnic Uzbeks during and after the violence, according to media observers and ethnic Uzbeks questioned by RFE/RL.

In one Uzbek neighborhood right off the main Masaliev street in Osh, a woman gave a dour assessment of the television coverage. «On television they’re saying everything is fine,» she said on condition that her name not be used, out of fear for her safety. «We never see a single Uzbek being interviewed.»

In the southern village of Mazhnun-tol, a man named Mamirjan said that «TV broadcasts only one way. Uzbeks are always being blamed.» He alleged that state broadcasters were «showing Uzbek homes and saying they’re Kyrgyz.»

Media consultant Jumagulov says one of the country’s major television channels, EITR, has not broadcast a single report over the past two months on the thousands of ethnic Uzbeks who were forced to leave their homes.

He adds that his monitoring of national-television programming has revealed that the state channels’ coverage of the situation in the south has largely been limited to reports on officials’ visits and statements and on the delivery of humanitarian aid. Most interviewees, he says, call for peace or praise reconciliation efforts.

Correspondents from the two channels have offered explanations for the dearth of coverage.

Gulbara Kenjeeva, a regional correspondent of NTRK, told a media-monitoring group from the NGO «Journalists» that the threat of violence played a large part.

Kenjeeva recalled that on June 11 a young man with a knife attacked her and Ibragim Ashurov, NTRK’s cameraman. Only because they were able to drive away quickly, she said, were they able to survive. After that incident, they didn’t go out to cover events because all journalists were under threat, she said.

EITR correspondents were also attacked, according to «Journalists.» The NGO reports that Rasul Nasirdinov, an EITR cameraman, was beaten badly and his car damaged when he attempted to cover events.

Image Crisis

Kuban Abdymen, director of the Zamandash press agency in Bishkek, suggests that bias in some Kyrgyz media could be attributed to an effort to instill balance to the overall coverage, often seen to disproportionately portray ethnic Uzbeks as the main victims of the unrest.

«Since in the international media there were lots of one-sided articles about the events and the tragedy in Osh, these materials [in the Kyrgyz press] may be considered a natural response to them,» Abdymen says. «If the foreign media would try to be objective about the events in Kyrgyzstan, then there would be no reason to publish such articles.»

The international media focused much of their reporting on attacks on businesses and properties of ethnic Uzbeks, broadcasting images of the burning and looting of homes in Uzbek neighborhoods into living rooms around the world.

In some cases, ethnic Kyrgyz have come under fierce criticism in the Kyrgyz media for contribute to this portrayal of events.

Rights activist Tolekan Ismailova, who was oft-quoted by international media in the early days of the violence, has been called a «traitor» in Kyrgyz online forums for describing atrocities being committed. She announced in early July that she left the country after hearing that her life was under threat.

Bermet Malikova, a journalist with a Russian-language daily, says she was described by several Kyrgyz newspapers as having been «unpatriotic» for her coverage of the events. Malikova works for «Vecherny Bishkek,» which media observers widely mention as the most outspoken publication in Kyrgyzstan during the crisis. She says several Kyrgyz newspapers warned her not to become an «enemy of the Kyrgyz people.»

«Alibi,» for example, wrote in July that journalists such as Malikova have «no respect for their native language,» and called on her to make amends for her actions: «At this moment, when Kyrgyz people are swallowing blood, suffering, and expecting condolences and support, why don’t you offer your sincere condolences?» the paper asked.

One Story, Two Sides

The reporting by «Vecherny Bishkek» does not stand out as having been pro-Uzbek. A review of its coverage over past weeks reveals few interviews with ethnic Uzbeks. It had no reports from camps along the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border where tens of thousands of displaced ethnic Uzbeks sought shelter in the aftermath of the violence. Slide shows depicting burned-down Uzbek neighborhoods or displaced ethnic Uzbeks do not feature prominently on the paper’s website, as they have on many international news sites.

However, » Vecherny Bishkek» was one of very few Kyrgyz publications that openly — albeit sparsely — mentioned the Uzbek side of the story. «The Uzbek community claims the deaths of some 700 people,» the paper wrote on June 15 in a chronicle of events in Osh. «In Uzbek neighborhoods, residents are too afraid to call the ambulance,» the chronicle’s author, Andrei Oreshkin wrote.

«Vecherny Bishkek» also published some photos of dead bodies gathered on a street corner, tanks moving down streets, and burning homes and cars — although there is no mention of location or names that would indicate the ethnicity of the victims.

Overall, explains Akmat Alagushev, a Bishkek-based observer for the Media Policy Institute, coverage of the unrest has revealed that Kyrgyz journalists «have split into two groups.»

«They keep accusing each other, with one side saying that the other papers are unpatriotic, and that group of papers calling the others too nationalistic,» Alagushev says.

RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service correspondent Venera Djumataeva contributed to this report

Farangis Najibullah, RFE/RL

Источник: http://www.rferl.org/content/Is_Kyrgyz_Media_Providing_The_Whole_Picture/2114927.html

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

3 July
Olim Salimzoda, parliamentarian, Dushanbe

The Tajik parliamentarian Olimjon Salimzoda told the Asia Plus weekly that “the amendments to the media law adopted by the parliament in June are in compliance with the requirements of the contemporary journalism. The Tajik media law is going to become the best in Central Asia”. Salimzoda is the chairman of the parliament committee on international affairs, public organizations and information.

The parliamentarian added that, according to the adopted amendments, public officials are obliged to provide journalists with information within three days after a request, whereas, according to the existing rules, this timeframe is one months.

Salimzoda says that the amendments to the media legislation will improve the responsibility of officials and will force them to timely respond and take relevant measures after publications containing criticism.

18 July
Abdurakhmon Abdumanonov, deputy chairman, State Committee on Radio and Television under the government, Dushanbe

Deputy chairman of the Tajik State Broadcasting Committee told the media that his agency has launched a sociological opinion poll in order to define the best TV and radio programs. He noted that the poll is being conducted to encourage the best journalists and support the programs they create. The results of the poll will become public in August. Authors of the best stories and programs will receive special awards.

19 July
Khamid Abdulloev, mayor of Kulyab, Khatlon province

Speaking at a press conference, the mayor of Kulyab and parliamentarian Khamid Abdulloev called journalists to “constructive criticism”. According to a correspondent representing the NANSMIT monitoring service in Khatlon, the official stated that he has never opposed criticism unless it pursues “destructive purposes”.

The mayor has acknowledged the existing shortcomings in the municipal infrastructure; however, publications in the media should be rational, i.e. they should help officials to resolve the problems. “My office is always open for you; and I’ve never avoided meeting a journalist”, — he said.

21 July
Lutfullo Davlatov, director, TV Safina

Quoting the director of the government TV Safinacompany, the Asia Plus weekly says that “the station constantly shows the pictures of nature to tranquilize the audience”. (Asia Plus, #29, 21.07.2010).

“People come back home tired, and they ain’t got no time for theaters or concerts. Peaceful music, pictures of landscapes and waterfalls are calming them. Besides that, the constant demonstration of our spectacular nature might help in attracting foreign tourists”, — Davlatov added.

However, the director acknowledged that the TV programs contain too much of praise of the government, whereas the country keeps facing numerous problems. The director complained that the personnel of his station are mainly young and not very experienced people.

2. Factual situation in the media

6 July
Imruz News, private newspaper, Dushanbe

Editor of the Imruz News weekly Rajabi Mirzo told the media that his outlet is going to become a daily periodical.

“This is a commercial project, and along with the news, we’ll be providing our readers with analysis and entertainment”, — said Mirzo.

According to the Ministry of Culture, about 20 new periodicals have been registered in the last few months in the country; most of them are the so-called “sectoral” newspapers, i.e. belonging to particular ministries or government agencies.

7 July
The First Channel, Dushanbe

The Tajik weekly “Facts & Comments” publiched an article by a freelance author M. Salohiddinov criticizing the Tajik federal TV company “The First Channel” (#15, 07.07.2010). “Last week, the government TV companies dedicated most of their broadcasting time describing the visit of the President to Gorno Badakhshan”, — he says in his article titled “Where does the TVT money go?”

Salohiddinov says that those stories about the President’s trips “without the beginning and the end” have only one purpose in view – to earn as much as possible. The shooting of such events is not expensive; only a couple of cameramen and an editor are needed to accomplish such assignment. In distinction to that, a good talk show or and analytical program requires serious investments and smart people. The author also criticizes the government TV management for ignoring the audience’s opinion about those boring and useless programs.

18 July
Sadoi Konibodom weekly, Kanibadam, Sughd province

Editor of the Sadoi Konibodom weekly Gulomjon Khomidov told the media that his outlet will be published twice a week.

Khomidov also told that the local administration has purchased modern computers and digital equipment for his staff, and the quality of the newspaper will improve essentially. He added that the total number of subscribers at present is 2,5 thousand.

23 July
The Farazh weekly, Dushanbe

The Farazh weekly (#29, 21 July 2010) has published another article criticizing the road tolling company Innovative Road Solutions (IRS) operating in the country. The company maintains the first in Tajikistan commercial highway “Dushanbe – Chanak”.

“According to the President’s decree obliging government officials to take measures and give feedback after publications in the media, the authorities should have reacted long ago on numerous publications about the IRS’s activities and violations of the legislation”, — the article says.

Farazh refers to particular newspapers that published articles describing the draconic tolling fees established by IRS. Dozens of periodicals and the Internet sources expressed their negative attitude to the company’s behavior and pricing policy. “Regrettably, none of the officials from the Ministry of Transport and Communications and from the President’s Executive Office responded to the numerous questions and opinions expressed by journalists, experts, representatives of political parties, as well as residents of Varzob, Matcha and Istravshan”, — the article says. — “Isn’t that a violation of the Constitution?” The authors come to the conclusion that the silence of officials has created grounds for numerous articles in newspapers and rumors among the people.

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

3 July
All media

Tajik parliamentarians Olim Salimzod and Akramsho Fellaliev have drafted amendments for the Tajik Law “On printing and other mass media”. The existing Law was adopted in 1990; since then, it has been amended seven times. The authors say that the amended draft law adopted by the government in June is in full compliance to the requirements of the contemporary journalism. However, the Tajik media community expresses discontent and concerns about saying that the lawmakers did not take into consideration many factors and requirements in the sphere of media.

17 July
All media, Kurgan-Tube, Khatlon province

A t a meting of editors of the Khatlon province printing and electronic media on 17 July participants discussed the new draft medial law. The participants suggested to introduce changes and amendments, mainly in the sphere of social protection of media professionals, and the responsibility of public officials for access to information.

4. Journalists protecting their civil and professional rights

3 July
All media, Dushanbe

A new work book titled “Legal regulations in access to information” is published in Dushanbe. The work book is published by the National Association of Independent Mass Media (NANSMIT) under support of the Internews Network Office in Tajikistan and the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

The work book contains systemized and abridged provisions in the Tajik legislation regulating access to information. It also contains samples of legal requests and complaints, which might be of help to media professionals. The book also contains particular recommendations of Russian and Kazakh media researchers.

21 July
All media, Dushanbe

On 21 July, the Tajik National Association of Independent Mass Media (NANSMIT) held a seminar for journalists and representatives of human rights non-governmental organizations. The event was dedicated to the issues of strengthening of the “Network for freedom of expression in Tajikistan”. The seminar was supported by the Internews Network Office in Tajikistan and the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

Participants of the seminar expressed a desire and a will to consolidate their efforts and create a National Network for Freedom of Expression – TajFEN in order to closer adhere to the international standards of the freedom of expression and strengthen their potential in tackling the problems existing in the media environment. The Network is a voluntary public organization open for other units and alliances.

“TajFEN – is a ground for discussions, exchange of information, joint actions to protect the freedom of expression”, — said Nuriddin Karshibaev, chairman of NANSMIT. — “We intend to further institutionalize this network”.

26 July
All media, Khorog, GBAO

A two-day seminar on the topic of “Human Rights & Journalism” took place in the city of Khorog, the administrative center of Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province (GBAO).

Participants have gained knowledge in the area of national and international human rights mechanisms. They familiarized themselves with political and civil rights, such as the freedom of expression, fair justice, legal protection, etc.

The seminar was organized by the British Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) within the framework of the project “Protection of Human Rights and Legal Education through the Media in Central Asia” implemented under financial support of the European Commission.

II. VIOLATION OF RIGHTS IN THE MEDIA

1. Impediments to professional activities

15 July
Saidjon Sorbonkhoja, chairman of the Council of Ulems, Khatlon province

At an official meeting of Kurgan-Tube municipal authorities, deputy Mufti of Tajikistan and chairman of the Council of Ulems of Khatlon province Saidjon Sorbonkhoja called for the prohibition of activities of all private mass media. (Ozodagon weekly, #27, 14.07.2010).

“I am asking the public bodies to liquidate the non-government periodicals; otherwise, the authorities should control their activities”, — the religious leader said.

Sorbonkhoja says that the non-government media provoke confrontations and support protests of the people against the authorities. The religious leader referred to particular newspapers – Farazh and Paikon.

The author of the article in the Ozodagon weekly assumes in his article that this request voiced by the religious official was ordered by the local administration. “Whatever they [the authorities] plot, they do through parliamentarians or well-known people; and then, they wait for public reaction”, — the author says. — “Very often, the officials publicly call private newspapers “the yellow press” in retaliation for criticism in their publications.

2. Ungrounded limitation of access to information

15 July
Zebo Tajibaeva, Asia Plus weekly, Dushanbe

One of the Tajik law enforcement agencies’ press center refused to provide information to the correspondent of the Asia Plus weekly Zebo Tajibaeva (Asia Plus, #28 (547), 14 July 2010). The head of the press center told the journalist that the agency refuses to share any information and cooperate with the newspaper because in the recent time it was criticized by the weekly and forgot to mention [in their publications] that the agency had successfully accomplished a special anti-terrorist operation.

Editors of Asia Plus say that this is not the first case of that kind. Very often, the government agencies are not happy about particular headlines, abridged press releases, misprints, etc.

29 July
Zulfikor Ismoliyon, Radio Ozodi, Dushanbe

At a press conference in Dushanbe, the Minister of Economic Development and Trade Farrukh Khamraliev failed to answer a question regarding the incomes of the Tajik national aluminum plant. The question was addressed by a correspondent of Radio Ozodi (Radio Liberty) Zulfikor Ismoliyon. Experts say that this national enterprise, the biggest in the country is controlled by the President and his family, and any financial information about the aluminum smelter is kept находится под замком.

3. Infringement of copyright

22 July
N. Ashurzoda, veteran of the Tajik journalism, Dushanbe

The SSSR weekly (#29, 22 July 2010) published an article by the veteran of the Tajik journalism N. Ashurzoda who complains that many local printing outlets do not pay honoraria to their authors. The journalist compares the existing system with the Soviet one, where the rights of journalists were protected and their social benefits were guaranteed.

III. CONFLICTS. VIOLATIONS INCRIMINATED TO THE MEDIA AND JOURNALISTS

1. Protection of honor, dignity and business reputation

15 July
Jamoliddin Nuraliev, deputy Minister of Finance, Dushanbe

Deputy Minister of Finance Jamoliddin Nuraliev refutes the information in the Tajik media published with the reference to Deutche Welle stating that “he is an alleged founder of the Innovative Road Solution (IRS) company registered in the offshore British Virgin Islands.

The official published its letter in the Asia Plus weekly (#28, 14.07.2010).

The official asked the Tajik private media not to reprint “the private conclusions of the Deutche Welle’s correspondent”, and to get in require information directly from the IRS.

“In case of similar publications, I reserve the right to take a legal action against the media”, — said Nuraliev.

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

KHUJAND, Tajikistan — A nongovernmental organization that works with homeless children in Tajikistan has been banned after being accused of proselytizing, RFE/RL’s Tajik Service reports.

The court in the northern city of Khujand cited several reasons on July 26 for the ban on Dasti Madad (Helping Hand), including a claim the NGO had engaged in Christian missionary work.

Dasti Madad representatives say the accusation is untrue.

Aleksandra Kolesnikova, a Dasti Madad lawyer, told RFE/RL on July 27 that the NGO was accused of proselytizing because in 2005 a group of young people in the organization left Dasti Madad and set up an organization called Hayoti Javonon (Life of the Youth).

Kolesnikova said Hayoti Javonon distributed gifts from foreign Christian missionary groups to children at official gatherings and special events, in violation of Tajik law. She said the Justice Ministry assumed Dasti Madad was doing the same things.

Kolesnikova said another reason cited by the court for closing the NGO was that its documentation was in Russian, not Tajik, the country’s official language.

Dasti Madad was also criticized because the court said its teaching programs were not based on official school curriculum, even though it was providing a service the government was unable to perform.

Kolesnikova added that Dasti Madad has been active in the country for 11 years and has helped more than 500 homeless children by providing shelter, schooling, and defending their rights.

She said there are only a few NGOs in Tajikistan dedicated to helping homeless or street children — two in Sughd province and one in the capital, Dushanbe.

Dasti Madad’s work has not stopped as its founders have already created a new NGO, Sarchashma (Source), which has been registered with the Justice Ministry. They said they would continue to work with homeless children in Sughd under the new name.

http://www.rferl.org/content/Tajik_Court_Bans_NGO_Helping_Homeless_Children/2112909.html