Tajik man jailed for 'insulting' president on social media
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 16 August 2018 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Tajik man jailed for 'insulting' president on social media, 16 August 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5bc052ab4.html [accessed 23 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
August 16, 2018 15:33 GMT
By RFE/RL's Tajik Service
Umar Murodov shared the offending posts on a Russian social network while working as a migrant laborer in Russia.
A 30-year-old Tajik man has been sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of insulting the country's president and calling for the overthrow of the government on social media posts, family and a court official say.
Umar Murodov shared the posts on Russian social network Odnoklassniki over the past two years while working as a migrant laborer in Russia, said a court official in Tajikistan's southern Khatlon Province, where Murodov was sentenced.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity, saying he wasn't authorized to speak to the media.
Murodov was arrested on June 12 upon his return to his native town of Kulob.
Murodov's father, Davlat Murodov, told RFE/RL on August 16 that his son was wanted by Tajik authorities over the allegations.
"Authorities had promised us that if he returned voluntarily, he will be pardoned. I sold our cow and bought him tickets. My son came, but they arrested him," the father said.
The family say they don't agree with the court ruling but will not appeal it, and instead will write a letter to President Emomali Rahmon asking for a pardon.
Court documents obtained by RFE/RL's Tajik Service show that Murodov admitted to reposting and liking several videos.
However, Umarov insisted he "didn't have an intention of overthrowing the government and insulting or slandering the president."
In April, another migrant worker from Khatlon, Alijon Sharipov, was sentenced to nine and a half years for watching, liking, and sharing videos of the banned Islamic Renaissance Party's gatherings abroad.
Sharipov was found guilty of "calling for extremism, calling for the overthrow of the government, and working for banned political parties."
Sharipov admitted sharing the videos, but said he didn't know it was against the law.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
