Systematic Rights Violations Against Pamiri Minority in Tajikistan, Reports Amnesty International

A new report by Amnesty International reveals that Tajikistan’s authorities systematically discriminate against the Pamiri minority, violating their rights through cultural suppression, political exclusion, and violent repression, as reported by Jurist News on September 11.

The Pamiris, an ethnic group residing in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast, primarily practice the Shia Islam and differ from the Tajik majority in language and culture. The report highlights severe violations of their economic, social, and cultural rights, including restrictions on the use of Pamiri languages, exclusion from political positions, and the destruction of local businesses. The presence of security forces from other regions has exacerbated tensions, with reports of hostility towards Pamiris, arbitrary arrests, and suppression of dissent under the guise of combating terrorism.

Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, emphasized the need for the international community to urgently address these human rights violations with Tajikistani authorities. Historically, the Pamiris have faced isolation due to the geographical remoteness of the Pamir Mountains. The region has experienced instability since the late 20th century, marked by a separatist movement and military operations.

Tensions escalated in 2021-2022 following the killing of prominent Pamiri figure Gulbiddin Ziyobekov. In response to protests in Khorugh, security forces fired on peaceful demonstrators, resulting in two deaths. Instead of investigating, authorities cracked down on civil society and informal leaders. In May 2022, a violent dispersal of protests led to numerous fatalities, including the death of informal leader Mamadbokir Mamadbokirov. Over 200 human rights defenders were arrested, facing lengthy prison sentences on dubious charges.

According to the article, the human rights situation in Tajikistan has deteriorated over the past two decades, with rising corruption, increased government intervention in journalism, frequent arrests, and a stagnant status for women’s rights.