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Saidnuriddin Shamsiddinov

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Lawyer from Tajikistan
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Saidnuriddin Shamsiddinov is a lawyer from Tajikistan. In 2020, Shamsiddinov criticized several prosecutors and judges from the Vakhsh District for allegedly participating in illegal activities. He was subsequently arrested by the Tajik authorities. He was sentenced to 8.5 years in prison on many charges at the end of 2020. An additional eight months were added on in November 2021, on the charge of collaboration with a banned political group called Group 24. Both his lawyer and the group denied any connection.

Career

Until 2017, Shamsiddinov was employed as a bailiff, working in the Khatlon Region. He quit after becoming frustrated with being asked for bribes and started working for a human rights organization.

Arrest and charges

Shamsiddinov made critical posts alleging illegal activities of government officials. These included Facebook posts alleging corruption from officials and a video that was posted on the YouTube channel of the opposition group National Alliance of Tajikistan.

In December 2020, Shamsiddinov was found guilty of fraud, illegal land sales and spreading false information. The charges also included evasion of child support, despite the fact that all child support payments have been paid, "on time and to the satisfaction of ... ex-wife." The trial evidence also included a confession that Shamsiddinov gave after having undergone torture. Shamsiddinov and his family claimed the charges were "politically motivated". Charging troublesome members of civil society with multiple crimes is a common form of political repression in Tajikistan.

In November 2021, prosecutors further charged Shamsiddinov with having links to Group 24, a banned political organization in Tajikistan. The charges carried a maximum sentence of 10 years; however, he was only sentenced to eight more months.

International response

The International Partnership for Human Rights included Shamsiddinov in an op-ed they wrote for Eurasia Review on freedom of the press in Tajikistan. They also included him in a report on Tajikistan for Civicus. The nonprofit group Freedom Now and the law firm Proskauer Rose filed a petition on Shamsiddinov's case for the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.

References

  1. ^ "Tajikistan: Human rights activists demand the release of a lawyer convicted for expressing his opinion". ACCA Media. Analytical Center for Central Asia. 7 April 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Jailed Tajik Lawyer Charged Further With Having Links To Banned Political Group". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 8 June 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  3. ^ "Prosecutors Seek Additional Seven Years In Prison For Jailed Tajik Lawyer". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  4. "Convicted Lawyer Shamsiddinov has nothing to do with the Group of 24 and has never addressed us!". guruhi24.net. Group of 24. 6 September 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  5. ^ Lhedmat, Adam; Amir Naini; Timothy L. Kelly (21 April 2022). "PETITION TO: UNITED NATIONS WORKING GROUP ON ARBITRARY DETENTION In the Matter of Saidnuriddin Shamsiddinov Citizen of the Republic of Tajikistan" (PDF). Freedom Now. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  6. ^ "In Jail For A Joke: Stifling Of Independent Voices Continues In Tajikistan – OpEd". Eurasia Review. 15 October 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  7. "ESCALATING TENSIONS & CRACKDOWN ON HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS & JOURNALISTS". Monitor: Tracking Civic Space. Civicus. 12 September 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
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