Rukhshona Hakimova. Photo: Social Media
A group of Tajik women has written an open letter to President Emomali Rahmon, urging him to reduce the sentence of journalist Rukhshona Hakimova, who was sentenced to eight years in prison on charges related to an attempted coup. Around 130 activists signed the appeal, Asia-Plus reports.
The petitioners expressed deep concern over the fact that Hakimova’s two young daughters—one of whom is still breastfeeding—have been left without their mother.
«This verdict has shaken us to the core, but most of all, it has shattered the lives of her two little daughters, Shahnura and Shukrona, who have suddenly lost the most precious thing a child has—a mother’s love, warmth, and care,» the letter states.
The authors emphasize that they are not calling for Hakimova’s full acquittal but only for a more lenient punishment. They hope the law provides a mechanism of clemency that would allow her prison term to be replaced with a non-custodial sentence.
«We believe there are legal avenues to take her motherhood into account and ensure that two young children are not left without maternal care,» the activists conclude.
Last year, Tajikistan saw a wave of arrests of politicians and former security officials accused of plotting a violent seizure of power. The trial began in November, with court proceedings held inside a pretrial detention center in Dushanbe.
On February 5 of this year, the court delivered its verdict, finding all defendants guilty and sentencing most to lengthy prison terms.
Journalist Rukhshona Hakimova was convicted of treason and sentenced to eight years in prison. Before the ruling, she had remained free due to her young children but was arrested in the courtroom immediately after the verdict was announced.
According to Tajik media, Hakimova’s case is linked to a survey she conducted on «China’s influence in Tajikistan,» which involved some of the convicted individuals, including Saiddjafar Usmonzoda and her uncle, Shokirjon Hakimov. They were sentenced to 27 and 18 years in prison, respectively.
