Independent Center for Human Rights Protection
Affiliated media: Public organization
Incident date: January 26, 2023
Attack type:
- Shutting down a media outlet / blocking an Internet site/ seizure of an entire print run
Who attacked: Authorities
Source: Radio Ozodi
Location: Tajikistan, Dushanbe
Additional information:
On the recommendation of the Ministry of Justice, a well-known human rights organization in Tajikistan ceased its activities. The Independent Center for Human Rights Protection, which had been fighting against torture and protecting journalists’ rights in Tajikistan for the past 13 years, was closed down by a district court decision on January 26. Asadullo Khakimzoda, Deputy Minister of Justice, told reporters, saying, among other things, that the NGO was shut down because of «late submission of financial reports and other violations». Lawyers for the organization had represented the interests of the arrested journalists in courts. Some time ago, however, Abdurakhmon Sharipov, the center’s lawyer who defended Abdullo Gurbati’s interests, announced that he was terminating his work on the case.