Domestic violence against women remains a serious problem in Tajikistan. Despite this, the Tajik parliament still hasn’t discussed the bill “About fighting against domestic violence”.

According to non-governmental organizations struggling to protect rights of women and children in Tajik society, the past nine months of 2012 registered more cases of domestic violence in comparison to the same period of the previous year.

Reliable statistics show that in 2011 more than 200 women committed suicide in Tajikistan’s Northern regions lone. Out of them, in seventy cases women killed themselves due to the domestic violence against them.

Story of an oppressed woman ready to die

Mahliyokhon (we changed her real name on her request – Jarayon) from Rudakiy district two times attempted to commit suicide because she could not tolerate the severe violence against her by her husband and his brother.

“My brother-in-law, who just returned from Syria, took away my children from me and locked me in a separate room for three days. When I asked “why?” he did not reply anything. After three days, my husband returned from Russia. And then started the real violence against me and my children,” says Mahliyokhon.

According to woman, her husband tied her with scotch nape and then beat her in a dark room. When she lost her consciousness and her life was in danger, the husband took Mahliyokhon to local hospital. When doctors asked what had happened, he simply replied “she fell down from stairs”.

“Shortly after this incident he again started beating me. He squeezed my head with his legs and beat me. He asked if I had called or met someone else during his absence, when he was in Russia. He used bad words against me in presence of our children. I got fed up with life and took about 30 pills at once,” remembers Mahliyokhon.

According to Gulsinoy, victim’s close relative, doctors tried really hard in bringing Mahliyokhon back to life when she was brought to local hospital with drug toxication. She says that her sister’s problems started because of her husband’s jealousy.

Mahliyokhon’s spouse did not want to answer the questions of “Jarayon” and said he did not want his family matters be discussed in media.

Why there is no law?

Oppression and violence in Tajikistan usually happens in families. Tajik society is well aware of violence against women, as the problem is widely discussed from long ago. However, both the government and law enforcement bodies consider the issue as “family problems”.

This may be a reason for oppressed women’s refusal to address the institutions that may help them, as they are afraid of society’s judgment.

“On the other side, women just do not believe that law enforcement agencies will not put any serious sanctions against their oppressive husbands,” says Kimmatgul Rozieva, a lawer from Tajikistan.

Nine years ago non-government organizations in Tajikistan drafted a bill “About fighting against domestic violence” and presented it to the parliament for discussion.

According to MP Hayriniso Yusufiy from Tajikistan People’s Democratic Party, the bill is being examined by government bodies and ministries, and at the end of the year 2012 will be sent to the parliament for further proceedings.

During the interview with Jarayon, Mavluda Huseynova, memer of “League of Women Lawyers”, expressed her belief that if the bill becomes a law, the problem of domestic violence in Tajikistan will be solved.

Husband is half saint?

Sociologists believe that the bill is not becoming a law simply because there is no demand for it in Tajik society at the moment.

“It has become a tradition for men to beat their wives. Moreover, Uzbek and Tajik women closely stick to the belief that “a husband is half saint”. I personally know cases when husband stabbed his wife with knife, leaving her in half-dead condition, but the problem was later mutually solved without the involvement of law enforcement bodies. Most women tolerate oppression, as they worry about the future of their children. Therefore, I think, women just do not demand such a law to exist,” says lawyer Shamsiya Abdurazakova.

According to Oynihol Bobonazarova, head of NGO “Preskpektiva+”, financial problems are another reason that bill “About fighting against domestic violence” is not becoming a law.

“If such law is introduced, the government will be obliged to create special departments in ministries that would tackle the problem of domestic violence, to establish shelters for oppressed women, to pay salaries for those, who will work there. In other words, a lot of money will be needed for this. The government does not have funds for this, and therefore, we still do not have a law that would protect rights of oppressed women and children,” says Bobonazarova.

Therefore, as head of “Perspektiva+” believes, it is too early to dream about eradicating the problem of domestic violence against women in Tajikistan.

“I fear that many women like Mahliyokhon will fall victims of domestic oppression until a law against it will be introduced in Tajikistan,” says Oynihon Bobonazarova.