Tajikistan: Tajik Islamic Party official accused of human trafficking - Ferghana.Ru Information agency, Moscow

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28.05.2010 16:23 msk

Ferghana.Ru

The law enforcement bodies of Tajikistan accuse the Islamic Renaissance Party leaders of human trafficking.

Davlat Najmiddinov, who heads the anti-organized-crime department in the province's Kulob district, told RFE/RL that Abdufattoh Abdukholiqov is suspected in "two case of selling women". He is still free, but law enforcement officers already filed the criminal case against him.

Najmiddinov informed that Abdukholiqov and some Nematullo Sharifov offered $500 for the daughter of one of the residents.

"The detained the suspects in the Kulyab area and found the exhibits: the passport and the ticket for underage girl from Dushanbe to Yekaterinburg", said IAM representative.

Najmiddinov also said that two months ago the suspects paid $200 for elder sister of this girl that was sent to Yekaterinburg, where she became the second wife of Tajik businessman (the native of Sogd Oblast), living in Kazakhstan.

Abdukholiqov denies all charges. "We were going to build a family for these girls, but not to traffic them – he mentioned. – We know this family. Their elder daughter got divorced few years ago and we were trying to find someone for her. Our friend from Sogd Oblast wanted to marry her".

Regarding 16-year old girl Abdukholiqov said "She was from poor family and we decided to help her get married. We found the friend in Moscow, but the law enforcement officers did not allow her leaving the country".

Meanwhile the experts say that the poverty and ignorance of rights are the major reasons why local mafia groups organize the human trafficking.

"The seminars proved the majority of people have no information about human trafficking and become victims" said Makhbuba Sharifova, the Director of Mariam public organization. According to her, "the criminals make up to $50 thousand for each girl. In the last years, the major destinations for them were Kyrgyzstan and Russia".

Najmiddinov informed that three human trafficking cases were filed only in Kulyab group of districts, the Khatlon Oblast.

Tajikistan: Tajik Islamic Party official accused of human trafficking - Ferghana.Ru Information agency, Moscow