A resident of the city of Vahdat, who complained about the way his brother was taken to the army and his grandmother was beaten, was accused of extremism.
The video of Shahbaz Sharifbek’s protest made its way to social networks on October 15 of this year and caused many reactions. The users asked the authorities to find out what happened and to punish the perpetrators of mistreatment of the old woman.
“Article 307”
A source close to the disciplinary structures of the city of Vahdat, on condition of anonymity, told Radio Ozodi on November 1 that Shahboz Sharifbek was arrested in connection with that video on October 16.
According to the same source, on October 26, a case was opened against Shahboz Sharifbek on the charge of “public invitation to carry out extremist activities (extremism) through the Internet”.
Part Two, Addendum One of Article 307 of the Criminal Code of Tajikistan stipulates imprisonment from five to ten years for this charge. This is while a source close to the law enforcement agencies said, “initially he was arrested for disobeying the order of a public servant.”
Another source in the law enforcement authorities of Vahdat city said that Shahbozi Sharifbek was arrested for two months on October 26 by court order.
The reaction of the relatives of Shahboz Sharifbek, a 23-year-old resident of Odili village of Vahdat city, to this accusation is currently unknown.
“He got nervous, it’s not his fault”
The reporter of Radio Ozodi went to the house of this family on October 31. Safargul Gafurova, the grandmother of Shahboz Sharifbek, told the Radio Ozodi reporter that every day they take food for her grandson to the detention center of the State Criminal Court in Vahdat, but they have not seen him yet. This 82-year-old woman said that her grandson is not guilty and only became nervous after his brother was forcibly taken to the army and beaten.
The 12-minute video, in which Shahboz Sharifbek protested the behavior of the office staff of the Simiganji community of Vahdat, was broadcast on October 15. This video has been viewed more than a million times and caused a lot of reaction.
This resident of Vahdat, while criticizing the authorities of Vahdat city, President Emomali Rahmon, complained that he does not see violations of the law in the country.
Our interlocutor in the authorities of Vahdat city said, “Shahbozi Sharifbek regretted his words during the first interrogations and said that he was emotional.” Radio Ozodi cannot independently confirm this, and it is not known under what circumstances these words were said.
“The Orphan of the Lake”
The case of the young man is being investigated by the Vahdat City Prosecutor’s Office together with the city police department. It is not known whether Shahboz Sharifbek has a defense lawyer or not. State authorities have not officially explained these issues or his arrest.
Shahboz Sharifbek’s family lives in Odili village of Vahdat city, and according to themselves, they have a hard life. Safargul Gafurova, grandmother of Shahboz Sharifbek, told Radio Ozodi that Shahboz and his brother, who took him to the army, “are orphans of the lake”.
“Their father abandoned them early, their mother also died when they were children. I raised Shahbaz and his brother,” says Safargul Ghafurova.
In recent years, many people in Tajikistan have been called “traitors” and arrested and imprisoned for criticizing the government or the president. Rights defenders say that year by year, the authorities are less critical and the punishment of critics has become more severe.
Source : Радио Озоди