Tajik journalist Jumaboy Tolibov dies

DUSHANBE, November 18, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Tajik known journalist Jumaboy Tolibov died in Ayni district, Sughd province today morning, aged 52 after a short illness.

According to the National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan (Nansmit), Jumaboy Tolibov will be buried in his native village of Ispaghn in Ayni district tomorrow November 19.

Jumaboy Tolibov had been member of Tajik Journalists’ Union since 1984.  He had worked with Ayni district newspaper Mehnat (Labor) for many years and founded a private publication Nouri Haq (Light of Truth) in the Ayni district.  He had also worked as a government official with the Ayni district administration.   

In 2005, Jumaboy Tolibov underwent criminal persecution for writing critical articles about local government corruption.  On July 28, 2005, the Sughd court sentenced Jumaboy Tolibov, a journalist and local government official, to two years in prison for hooliganism and abuse of office.  Pascal Bonnamour, head of the European desk at Reporters Without Borders noted that the sentence is a cause for concern and an indication that press freedom is limited in Tajikistan.  The authorities released the journalist on December 16, 2005.  Tolibov, whose detention had been condemned by international media-rights groups, was released two months after the Tajik Supreme Court initially ordered his release. 

After that Tolibov had worked with the Dushanbe independent weekly Farazh.  He had also been the executive director the Center of Investigative Journalism, Consultations and Linguistic Expertise, which was founder of the Dushanbe independent weekly Paykon.  The weekly was known for its critical articles about governmental bodies and officials.  

Lawsuits, the publication problems as well as closure of the Center of Investigative Journalism, which was founder of Paykon, have undermined the journalist’s health.  All this led to exacerbation of disease.