Inter­na­tio­nal Support of Conscien­tious Objec­tors and Deserters

Tadzhikistan: Conscientious objector freed, but another jailed

(05.11.2020) Rustamjon Norov, a 22-year-old Jehovah’s Witness from Dushanbe, is in Khujand Investigation Prison facing prosecution for refusing compulsory military service on grounds of conscience. He faces two to five years’ imprisonment if convicted.

On 1 November, conscientious objector Jovidon Bobojonov was freed under presidential prisoner amnesty after serving nine months of his two-year jail term.

Tajikistan: Conscientious objection "a major crime"?

(14.01.2020) Jehovah’s Witness conscientious objector Jovidon Bobojonov has been held since October 2019 by the military despite offering to do alternative civilian service, even though the government claimed in March 2019 to the UN Human Rights Committee that an alternative service law is being prepared.

From early October 2019, 19-year-old Jehovah’s Witness conscientious objector Jovidon Bobojonov has been held in a military unit near Dushanbe pending trial as he refused to bear arms, wear military uniform, or take the military oath. His requests to do an alternative civilian service have been refused. No criminal case against him is known to have been launched.

Tadzhikistan: Conscientious objection appeal to UN Human Rights Committee?

(27.02.2018) Jehovah's Witness prisoner of conscience Daniil Islamov is preparing to appeal for the last time to Tadzhikistan's Supreme Court against a six-month jail term imposed in October 2017 for refusing compulsory military service. If this appeal is rejected, he is likely to appeal to the UN Human Rights Committee. The government and the Supreme Court have not ordered prisoner of conscience Islamov's release, despite the United Nations (UN) Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on 5 October publicly stating that Tadzhikistan should release him "immediately".

Tajikistan: Conscientious objector’s military trial imminent

(20.10.2017) 18-year-old Jehovah’s Witness conscientious objector Daniil Islamov faces up to two years’ imprisonment if convicted at Qurghonteppa Military Court. Forcibly conscripted in April, he has been detained in a military unit. Protestant Pastor Bakhrom Kholmatov lost his appeal against his three-year prison term.