On March 11, every year since 1995, “Press Day” has been celebrated in Tajikistan. This holiday is dedicated exit in the light of the first Tajik newspaper “Bukhoroi Sharif”. The newspaper “Bukhoroi Sharif” is the first periodical in the territory of the Bukhara Emirate, published from March 11, 1912 to January 2, 1913 by Mirzo Siroji Hakim, one of the enlighteners of the city of Bukhara, and Mirzo Muhiddin Mansuri (merchant) were among the founders of the newspaper. The editor-in-chief of “Bukhoroi Sharif” is Mirzodzhalol Yusufzoda (journalist and Azerbaijan writer), the executive secretary is Mirzo Gaffor. The finances of the publication were led by one of the richest people in Bukhara – K.L. Levin.
The main goals of the “Bukhoroi Sharif” publication: to bring Islamic enlightenment and modern ideas to the masses, to free people from ignorance and feudal backwardness. “Bukhoroi Sharif” informed Bukharians about the life of other peoples, especially the French (Europeans), about important events in the world, including Russia, published a Persian translation of world-famous works.
However, on January 2, 1913, after six months of work, the newspaper was closed by the Emir of Bukhara and the Russian Embassy, as public interest in world events grew and the awakening of the political consciousness of the masses began.
Thanks to the efforts of a number of intellectuals Kironshoh Sharifzod, Payvanli Gulmurod, Abdukholik Nabavi, in 1995 the “Press Day” was legalized, in honor of the newspaper “Bukhoroi Sharif”.
The free space of the period of perestroika and the first years of independence allowed the free press to exist and function in the country. However, this space began to narrow since Rakhmonov came to power, and after 2013-2014, a free and independent press in Tajikistan was completely destroyed. This situation has led many journalists to leave the country. Today, any attempt to freedom and pluralism is being suppressed in the country. Last year alone, there was one case of imprisonment of a journalist and dozens of cases of harassment and assault, insults to journalists, both at home and abroad. The violation of the right to freedom of speech and freedom of the press in recent years has been criticized by international organizations. Last year, Tajikistan took 161st place out of 180 countries in the World Ranking of Press Freedom.
The political movement “Group 24” always supported freedom of speech and pluralism and condemned and condemns repressive policy of Rakhmonov on suppression of the free press.
Happy Press Day!
Group of 24 political movement
