Berlin, Brussels (22/5 – 40)

The Ismaili Pamiris of Tajikistan are a tiny minority group in Central Asia, whose ancient homeland lies in the remote and forbidding mountains that straddle the borders of Afghanistan, China, and Russia. Despite their small numbers, they have long been targeted for persecution by the authoritarian government of Tajikistan. In recent years, this has escalated into a full-blown campaign of ethnic cleansing, with President Imomali Rahmon seeking to eradicate this community and replace them with ethnic Tajiks. The Pamiris reside in the Gorno-Badakhshan region (GBAO), which became a warzone in May 2022. Government security forces had swept through Vamar, indiscriminately killing, torturing, and jailing Pamiris whom they accused of committing “terrorist acts” when their real crime was organizing non-violent protests against government repression. 

Zoir Rajabov was assassinated by Tajik security forces in his home, along with Khurzand Mazarov, another influential Pamiri leader. Rajabov was a key informal leader in the UPD neighbourhood of Khorog.  Informal Pamiri leaders coordinated community activities, such as distributing aid to the poor, sharing community funds to pay for marriages and burials, and resolving conflicts.

Rajabov was close to Imomnazar Imomnazarov (Imom), an esteemed informal leader in GBAO from the Terchid neighbourhood in the regional capital Khorog. Imomnazar was killed in an explosion in his home in August 2012, likely the victim of a government assassination.

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Berlin, Brussels (18/5 – 40)

In the vast and remote mountain lands of Central Asia, the Ismaili Pamiris have long faced systemic discrimination and persecution at the hands of the Tajik government. Despite their proud history, rich cultural traditions, and highly educated populace, they have been targeted for cultural extermination in a chilling campaign of ethnic cleansing. Tajikistan President Imomali Rahmon has demonized them as “inbred” and “criminals” and launched a brutal program to replace their community with ethnic Tajiks. 

In May and June 2022, the government launched a final assault on the Pamiris to end their autonomy and bring them under the total control of the state. Heavily armed security forces rampaged into the town of Vamar, where protestors calling for respect for human rights had peacefully blocked the Pamiri Highway. There and in other towns of the Gorno-Badakhshan region (GBAO), protestors and passers-by were shot dead, maimed, and taken to prisons to be tortured and degraded. 

Jangibek Shekhburov participated in the public protest in Vamar on May 17 and 18. He was a protestor who fled from the security forces along with five friends who hid in a house. There, they were discovered by Tajik security forces, blasted with explosives and dragged out of the house. Four were executed with close shots to the head, and one taken prisoner. According to reports, Jangibek was killed by the security forces.

Jangibek lived in Jangalak village of the Rushan region in GBAO. He was working in Poland for many years and had returned to Rushan to start a family. His wife was pregnant at the time of his passing. His son was born after his death.

He was buried in Derzud cemetery, along with some of the other 21 victims of the Tajik security forces. 

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Berlin, Brussels (12/5 – 40)

In the vast mountain lands of Central Asia, a small ethnic group located at the crossroads of Afghanistan, China, and Russia is struggling for its very survival in the face of a national program that, some experts argued, is tantamount to ethnic cleansing.  The Pamiris of Tajikistan were granted autonomy by the USSR and reside in Gorno-Badakhshan region known as the GBAO. For years, the Pamiris’ ancient traditions, peaceful religious faith, and highly educated populace, accused by Tajikistan President Imomali Rahmon of being “inbred” and run by “criminals”, have faced a state campaign that replaces the Pamiri society with ethnic Tajiks. This re-engineering of the GBAO climaxed in May and June 2022, when security forces stormed up the Pamiri Highway that leads to China and killed, wounded, arrested, and tortured hundreds of Pamiris who had been protesting the government’s abuse of human rights in GBAO. Nekkadam Muborakshoev was one of the victims.

Nekkadam Muborakshoev was a geologist by training and had returned from Russia four months earlier to build a house in the village of Rushan. He was a father of three. 

Akbarsho Muborakshoev, Nekkadam’s brother, said that he went to the bank in the district center of Vamar on the morning of May 18 to withdraw money which was sent by his daughter from Russia. He was later killed by the regime and they brought his body back to his family. He was badly burnt and his body was scorched and unrecognizable. Akbarsho said that the soldiers treated his brother like an animal. He believed that his brother was a peaceful civilian and did not even carry a pocketknife.

Nekkadam died at the age of 58. He was building a house next to his brother’s house in the village. His three children were living in Russia and they had sent money to him to build the house. After his death, the house was left empty. 

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Berlin, Brussels (11/5 – 40)

The Ismaili Pamiris of Tajikistan are a tiny minority group in Central Asia, whose ancient homeland lies in the remote and forbidding mountains that straddle the borders of Afghanistan, China, and Russia. Despite their small numbers, they have long been targeted for persecution by the authoritarian government of Tajikistan. In recent years, this has escalated into a full-blown campaign of ethnic cleansing, with President Imomali Rahmon seeking to eradicate this community and replace them with ethnic Tajiks. The Pamiris reside in the Gorno-Badakhshan region (GBAO), which became a warzone in May 2022. Government security forces had swept through Vanj, indiscriminately killing, torturing, and jailing Pamiris whom they accused of committing “terrorist acts”. Mukhiddin Kurbonasenov was one of the many peaceful Pamiri activists who fell victim to this brutal onslaught.

Mukhiddin was from the village of Vamar in Rushan, Tajikistan. A single man, he engaged in seasonal and temporary work, mostly in the field of construction.

According to reports, Mukhiddin and his friend, Asliddin Khursandov, sought refuge in the mountains to evade the gunfire and brutality of Rahmon regime’s security officers in town. While hiding there, helicopter snipers found them and he was shot to death.

Mukhiddin was reported to have died at the age of 35.

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