With U.S./Russian Support, Tajikistan’s Dictator Crushes Religious Expression and Democratic Protest
Rahmon's commitment to the U.S. war on terror guarantees Washington’s silence about his tyrannical practices.
By Emran Feroz / AlterNet June 18, 2016
Emomali Rahmon is known for this thick and bushy eyebrows. The sturdy former communist has ruled the Central Asian Republic of Tajikistan for 25 years, and is serving his fourth term in office. Last month, it became clear that there will be another term.
Since the end of the Tajik civil war in the 1990s, Rahmon has ruled his country with an iron fist. Although elections take place, Tajikistan has become a repressive dictatorship under his watch. Rahmon's government has become famous for hunting, imprisoning and killing everyone who dares to speak against it. Meanwhile, the dictator's clan enriches itself on the public’s dime.
Even with unlimited power and wealth, Rahmon seems unsatisfied. He has introduced a constitutional reform that includes 41 different amendments to guarantee him power for a lifetime. On May 22, a referendum was held and the Tajik people had to vote for or against Rahmon. The outcome was predictable. According to government sources, the voter turnout was 88 percent while 66 percent of the electorate voted for the referendum. But independent observers were hardly impressed, noting that free elections have yet to take place in Tajikistan.
The U.S. has mostly ignored the rising repression in Tajikistan. Rahmon's commitment to the West’s so-called war on terror has all but guaranteed Washington’s silence about his tyrannical practices. When the United States invaded Afghanistan, Rahmon opened his country's airspace to the U.S.-led coalition and provided it with logistic collaboration. In return, Washington secured Rahmon's power by making him stronger than ever before.
http://www.alternet.org/grayzone-project/us-and-russian-support-tajikistans-iron-fisted-dictator-crushes-religious
