The governor of Strict Regime Prison YaS 3/5 in Khujand refuses to explain why Jehovah’s Witness prisoner of conscience Shamil Khakimov – aged 72 and in urgent need of specialised medical care – cannot be transferred to hospital. On 15 February in his absence, Sugd Regional Court rejected Khakimov’s latest appeal. Jailed Ismaili leader from Mountainous Badakhshan, Muzaffar Davlatmirov, was transferred to General Regime Prison YaS 3/6 in Yavan in August 2022. Jailed Islamic Renaissance Party member, Zubaydullo Rozik, was again sent to punishment cell for having a Koran.

Jehovah’s Witness prisoner of conscience Shamil Khakimov has failed in his latest attempt to gain transfer to a hospital for urgently-needed specialised medical care. On 15 February, and in his absence, Sugd Regional Court rejected his appeal against a lower court denial of his suit for early release. The 72-year-old has multiple medical conditions, including signs of gangrene in his legs, serious eyesight problems, and frequent severe headaches.

Forum 18 asked the governor of Strict Regime Prison YaS 3/5 in Khujand, Colonel Jamoliddin Khushbakhtzoda, why the prison authorities have not transferred Khakimov to hospital for the specialised treatment he needs. Without answering, Colonel Khushbakhtzoda put the phone down. Subsequent calls went unanswered (see below).

Arrested in February 2019, Khakimov was jailed for books, other literature, photos, videos, audios, computer files, and mobile phone data seized from him and other Jehovah’s Witness community members, which the Prosecutor’s Office claimed contain “features of extremist activity”. He is now due for release from prison on 16 May 2023, aged 72, after which he will be banned from exercising his freedom of religion and belief until May 2026 (see below).

The 59-year-old Ismaili religious leader from Khorugh in Mountainous Badakhshan, Muzaffar Davlatmirov, was transferred to the General Regime Prison YaS 3/6 in Yavan in August 2022 soon after being jailed for five years. His jailing came amid a regime crackdown in the region. Forum 18 has been unable to find out if he can pray undisturbed in prison, and whether he is able to have religious books of his choice. The telephone of Prison YaS 3/6 went unanswered (see below).

In September 2022, the administration of Strict Regime Prison YaS 3/1 sent jailed Islamic Renaissance Party (IRP) member, Zubaydullo Rozik, to the punishment cell for 15 days. “The reason was the discovery of the Koran and Islamic literature in the sleeping area,” his son Hisomiddin Rozikov said. This was Rozik’s third known punishment cell term for exercising freedom of religion or belief in jail. Rozik – who is now 76 – is due for release in 2040. The telephone of Prison YaS 3/1 went unanswered (see below).

Prison administrations often violate the rights of prisoners to exercise freedom of religion or belief during their sentences. The UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (known as the Mandela Rules) say such rights must be respected and note: “Every prisoner shall be allowed to satisfy the needs of his or her religious life by .. having in his or her possession the books of religious observance” (see below).

The Prisons Department of the Justice Ministry’s Chief Directorate for the Enforcement of Criminal Punishments in Dushanbe refused to discuss the cases of any of these prisoners (see below).

No one at the regime’s State Committee for Religious Affairs and Regulation of Traditions, Ceremonies and Rituals (SCRA) would discuss anything with Forum 18 between 14 and 21 February. The men who answered the phones on 14 February of First Deputy Chair Amirbeg Begnazarov and of the head of the International Department Abdugaffor Yusufov put the phone down as soon as Forum 18 introduced itself. Subsequent calls to other SCRA officials went unanswered.

An official of the regime’s Human Rights Ombudsperson’s Office in the capital Dushanbe refused to discuss anything with Forum 18 on 21 February. He said Mukim Ashurov (Head of its Civil and Political Rights Department) and Rachabmo Habibulozoda (Head of its Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Department) were both away on a work trip. Their phones went unanswered on 22 February.

(The Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions accredits Tajikistan’s Human Rights Ombudsperson’s Office only with B status because of its failure to accord with the Paris Principles, which require such institutions to be independent of government.)

Jehovah’s Witness prisoner of conscience refused specialised medical treatment

Jehovah’s Witness prisoner of conscience Shamil Rasulovich Khakimov (born 30 January 1951) has failed in his latest attempt to gain release.

On 10 September 2019, a court in the northern city of Khujand jailed Khakimov for seven years, six months for allegedly “inciting religious hatred”. He had been in pre-trial detention since February 2019, and was prosecuted for books, other literature, photos, videos, audios, computer files, and mobile phone data seized from him and other community members, which the Prosecutor’s Office claimed contain “features of extremist activity”. No evidence was produced that Khakimov or his community had harmed anyone.

“I am guilty of nothing,” prisoner of conscience Khakimov told the Court. His real “crime” seems to be that the regime thinks he led Khujand’s Jehovah’s Witness community.

Khakimov’s jail term was twice reduced. Now due for release on 16 May 2023, aged 72, he would be banned from exercising his freedom of religion and belief until May 2026.

Prisoner of conscience Khakimov has long been seriously ill, has been repeatedly denied necessary medical treatment, and his health is rapidly declining. Among his multiple serious health problems are signs of gangrene in his legs, serious eyesight problems, and frequent severe headaches. He has not been able to wash himself since August 2022, but there are fears that he may die before his scheduled release date in May 2023.

The United Nations (UN) Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (known as the Mandela Rules, A/C.3/70/L.3) state in Rule 27 that: “All prisons shall ensure prompt access to medical attention in urgent cases. Prisoners who require specialized treatment or surgery shall be transferred to specialized institutions or to civil hospitals.” The Mandela Rules also state that medical decisions must be made by doctors.

The regime has long denied all prisoners access to the health care they need, and which it is their right to receive under Tajikistan’s legally binding international human rights obligations. Both the UN Human Rights Committee (in August 2019) and the UN Committee against Torture (in June 2018) have called for the regime to implement the Mandela Rules for all prisoners, including for the provision of medical treatment.

When Forum 18 asked prison governor Colonel Jamoliddin Khushbakhtzoda in June 2022 why the regime does not implement the Mandela Rules, he replied: “What Rules are you talking about? I haven’t heard of these Rules.” The previous prison governor, Justice Ministry officials, and a Supreme Court official have all denied to Forum 18 that they have any knowledge of the Mandela Rules.

There have been multiple reminders from the UN Human Rights Committee from March 2021 onwards that Tajikistan’s human rights obligations require that Tajikistan must “ensure, without delay, that Mr. Khakimov receives adequate medical treatment at a specialised medical institution in accordance with his health care requirements, and that an alternative to imprisonment is secured for Mr. Khakimov”.

Regime officials from Strict Regime Prison YaS 3/5, Khujand City Court, and the Justice Ministry’s Chief Directorate for the Enforcement of Criminal Punishments have all denied that prisoner of conscience Khakimov has any serious health problems or need of specialised medical treatment.

Khakimov’s suit to be transferred for medical treatment fails

Prisoner of conscience Khakimov lodged a court appeal to be transferred from Strict Regime Prison YaS 3/5 for urgent medical treatment in a specialised hospital. However, on 2 November 2022, Judge Marufjon Rustamzoda of Khujand City Court refused the application.

At the November 2022 hearing, held in Strict Regime Prison YaS 3/5, a non-specialist medical member of the prison medical unit staff admitted in court: “Khakimov’s health has worsened, and the medical unit is not able to give him proper constant attention and care.” A doctor who visited Khakimov in prison earlier in 2022 privately admitted that “his condition is severe”. However, to regime officials the doctor felt under pressure to describe Khakimov’s health as satisfactory.

On 15 February 2023, Sugd Regional Court rejected Khakimov’s appeal against the November 2022 decision. Khakimov’s lawyer filed an application for the complaint to be heard in the presence of both herself and her client. Yet the court hearing was held without prisoner of conscience Khakimov’s participation, Jehovah’s Witnesses told Forum 18 on 20 February 2023.

“Unfortunately, the [February 2023] appeal court left the negative decision of the lower court [November 2022] unchanged,” Jehovah’s Witnesses added.

The telephone of Sugd Regional Court went unanswered when Forum 18 called on 22 February.

On 22 February, Forum 18 asked prison governor Colonel Khushbakhtzoda why the prison authorities have not transferred Khakimov to hospital for the specialised treatment he needs. Without answering, Colonel Khushbakhtzoda put the phone down. Subsequent calls went unanswered.

Prisoner of conscience Khakimov’s prison address is:

Tajikistan
Viloyati Sugd
735700 Shahri Khujand
Muassisai islohii YaS 3/5
Khakimov Shamil Rasulovich