by Muhamadjon Kabirov, WLC Leadership Council member.
On February 5, 2025, the Supreme Court of Tajikistan sentenced independent journalist Rukhshona Hakimova to 8 years in prison following a secret trial, along with several opposition figures. She was convicted of treason under Article 305 of the Criminal Code of Tajikistan, though the details of the case remain classified. Independent media reported that her imprisonment was linked to conducting a public survey on China’s influence in Tajikistan—a legitimate journalistic activity that should be protected rather than criminalized.
Hakimova, a respected journalist and mother of two young children, has spent over a decade exposing critical issues in Tajikistan. Yet, like many others, she has become a target of political repression. Her sentencing follows a disturbing pattern of the Tajik government’s escalating assault on independent journalism, with multiple journalists and opposition figures imprisoned on fabricated charges.
This case is part of a wider crackdown on dissent, with other political figures, including her uncle Shokirjon Hakimov, receiving harsh sentences. The entire trial was conducted in secrecy, raising serious concerns about due process, judicial independence, and Tajikistan’s blatant violations of human rights.
On January 10, 2025, a court in the southern city of Kulob sentenced Ahmad Ibrohim, the 63-year-old editor-in-chief of the independent weekly newspaper Payk, to 10 years in prison on charges of bribery, extortion, and extremism. The trial was held behind closed doors, with the case classified as “secret.” Ibrohim has denied all charges, asserting that they are retaliatory actions in response to his critical reporting on local officials.
The World Liberty Congress calls on Tajikistan’s regional and international partners to take urgent action:
- Demand the immediate release of Rukhshona Hakimova and all unjustly imprisoned journalists and political figures.
- Condemn the use of secret trials and politically motivated charges to silence dissent.
- Hold Tajikistan accountable for its international human rights obligations, including press freedom and due process.
The international community must not remain silent while Tajikistan systematically dismantles free expression, independent media, and political opposition.
Journalism is not a crime. Speaking truth to power is not a crime.
