Hot News 2004

December 16

Journalist is being prosecuted for expressing criticism

On December 14, 2004, Safar Hakimov, a regional reporter for the National Radio was summoned to Faizabad district police department, in connection with his article “Support”, published in Minbari halk newspaper (11 December 2004). In the article, Safar Hakimov accused local authorities of misusing state property. Safar Hakimov said that he was sent on business trip to Rogun and Faizabad districts on December 13 and 14. Umarali Hudoyorov, a senior lieutenant and head of Miskanbad police station, approached him to inform that he should take the journalist to the district department of internal affairs, as he was instructed. Hakimov asked for permission to go home and notify his wife. His wife informed the journalist that police officers were searching for him. Therefore, he immediately left the city for Dushnbe. “I haven’t been home for 3 days, because I don’t know what to expect coming back home.”

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