Sughd governor meets with convicted journalist

KHUJAND, November 23, 2011, Asia-Plus -- On Tuesday November 22, Sughd governor Qohir Rasoulzoda met with Mahmadyusuf Ismoilov, a reporter for the Dushanbe-based independent weekly Nouri Zindagi (Light of Life) in Sughd’s Asht district, and his lawyer Muhabbat Jourayeva.

Ms. Jourayeva said the governor had promised to set up a special commission to check the cases of illegal allotment of lands in the Asht district.

We will recall the Khujand city court ruled on October 14 that Mahmadyusuf Ismoilov, a reporter for the Dushanbe-based independent weekly Nouri Zindagi (Light of Life) in Sughd’s Asht district must pay a fine of 35,000 somoni (equivalent to some 7,300 U.S. dollars).  By a ruling handed down at the Khujand city, Mahmadyusuf Ismoilov was released in the courtroom.

Ismoilov faced defamation, insult and extortion charges.  The court overturned the charge of extortion brought against the journalist.  The court, however, barred Mahmadyusuf Ismoilov from journalistic work for three years, and ordered him to pay a fine of 35,000 somoni causing moral damages.

Mahmadyusuf Ismoilov was arrested last November on separate counts of defamation, insult, and incitement to hatred over an article titled, “Asht Is Being Destroyed.  Who Is Responsible for It?”  In the article, published in the August 2010 issue of Nouri Zindagi, Ismoilov criticized government and law enforcement officials in the Asht district in the northern Sughd province of Tajikistan, and cited corruption, abuse of office, and mismanagement of funds.