Tajik journalist Rukhshona Khakimova marks 33rd birthday in prison

September 10, 2026 at 04:31 PM2 min

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Imprisoned Tajik journalist Rukhshona Khakimova turned 33 in prison on September 10. Her mother Maksudа Sharofova visited her two days earlier with her husband and children. Khakimova's sentence was reduced by three years under an amnesty law this summer, leaving more than 3.5 years to serve.

Key Facts

Rukhshona Khakimova was sentenced to 8 years in prison on February 5, 2025, on charges of high treason.
Her sentence was reduced by 3 years under an amnesty law this summer, leaving more than 3.5 years to serve.
Khakimova has been serving her sentence in a penal colony in Nurek for the second year.
Her mother Maksudа Sharofova said Khakimova organized a celebration of Independence Day and a reading competition of the Shahnameh in prison.
Reporters Without Borders, Human Rights Watch, and the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders condemned Khakimova's sentence and demanded her release.

Prison Sentence

Rukhshona Khakimova was sentenced to 8 years in prison on February 5, 2025, on charges of high treason. She rejected the accusation, according to her relatives. Khakimova has been serving her sentence in a penal colony in Nurek for the second year. This summer, her sentence was reduced by 3 years under an amnesty law, leaving more than 3.5 years to serve.

Family Visit

Two days before Khakimova's birthday, her mother Maksudа Sharofova visited her along with her husband and children. Sharofova said the visit was granted as a reward for Khakimova's good work in prison. Khakimova's daughters are four years old and one and a half years old, and Sharofova has cared for them for more than a year.

Prison Activities

Khakimova organized a celebration of Independence Day and a reading competition of the Shahnameh in prison, according to her mother. Women who were far from books began reading to participate in the competition and gain additional time for visits with relatives. For her good work, Khakimova receives additional phone time with family or extended visits.