We have a slightly more sombre post to share with you this weekend.
In May this year at least 25 ethnic Pamiris were killed by Tajik security forces at a protest, and in the months since the Pamiri ethnic minority based in the autonomous Gorno-Badakhshan region of the country has been increasingly targeted by the government.
The Pamir region is one of the only parts of Tajikistan where there is open resistance to the authoritarian government, and this escalation marks a renewed effort to suppress the people of this region.
When we travelled through the Gorno-Badakhshan area we were struck by the cultural differences between the capital city Dushanbe and the Pamiri towns we visited. Most of the people in this autonomous area are Ismailis, Sh’ite Muslims, living in a majority Sunni country. They have their own languages, customs and traditions. For instance, as activist and academic Nazira explained (pictured below) there is a real emphasis on women’s education in this part of Tajikistan, and education as a whole – with the mountain-top city of Khorog having one of the biggest universities in the country.
For years the development of Pamiri culture and languages has been suppressed, and the government is increasingly cracking down on media in the area. Journalists are being criminalised and earlier this year a female journalist was assassinated by security forces.
We’re devastated to learn of these developments, and know that they will feel terrifying for some of the women we spoke to in the area – many of whom are outspoken activists that could be at risk of persecution should the crackdown continue.
Below are some links with more details on what’s happening and urge you to read some of them. The international community has condemned what is happening, but far too few people are aware of what is going on. Please spread the word, contact journalists and write to your local MP to help us raise awareness.