Latest news with #Dushanbe
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Migrant can stay in UK because he does not want to shave
An asylum seeker from Tajikistan has been allowed to stay in the UK because he would have had to shave his beard off if he was deported. The unnamed man won an appeal after arguing that he could be tortured and have his facial hair forcibly removed if he was sent back home. The Home Office tried to deport him back to the Central Asian state, but an asylum court has now ruled that he may be entitled to international protection in the UK because of his beard. In Tajikistan, beards are unofficially banned by the Government and hundreds of thousands of men have been arrested for having one in the last decade. Men in the country with beards are arrested, shaved against their will and have their fingerprints taken by police. It is part of a government campaign to try to prevent men from becoming radicalised and joining Islamic extremist terror groups. The man's claim was initially dismissed but he appealed and secured a further hearing of his case after it was ruled that being forced to have his hair removed amounted to persecution rather than being the result of social pressures. The case, disclosed in court papers, is the latest example uncovered by The Telegraph where illegal migrants or convicted foreign criminals have used human rights laws to try to halt their deportations. Ministers are proposing to raise the threshold to make it harder for judges to grant the right to remain based on Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights, which protects the right to a family life, and Article 3, which protects against torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. After his claim was initially rejected, the Tajik man, who was granted anonymity, appealed on the basis that the judge at the first-tier tribunal made 'contradictory' findings about his fear of persecution. He claimed that the tribunal had not properly assessed whether he would shave his beard because of 'social pressures' or because of a 'fear of being persecuted'. The Tajik man said he would shave off his beard if he was sent back but only because he would have 'no option' as he would be at risk of persecution. Parminder Saini, the Deputy Judge of the Upper Tribunal, said: 'The [First-tier Tribunal] judge has failed to assess whether the [Tajik man] is shaving off his beard because of 'social pressures' or due to a 'fear of being persecuted'. 'We find that this represents inadequate and incomplete reasoning in relation to the key issue of why the [Tajik man] is willing to shave his beard on return to Tajikistan. 'If he wears a beard out of religious conviction but will conform for reasons of securing his safety, he may be entitled to international protection. 'If, however, he would conform because of social or other pressures, or simply because wearing a beard is not an act of faith for him, and not because of the risk of persecution, then he may not be a refugee.' He added: 'We also note that the judge has failed to consider the objective risk to the [Tajik man] by reference to the background material before him. '[His lawyer] took us to several examples... which pointed to torture and mistreatment remaining widespread, arbitrary arrest being commonplace, thousands of Tajik men having their beards forcibly shaved and being fingerprinted and recorded by the authorities etc. 'Thus, these examples of background material before the judge were relevant to, and should have informed, his assessment of whether the [Tajik man] was at risk on return as well as the likelihood of whether [he] would feel compelled to shave due to fear, but they find no mention in the decision.' Judge Saini ruled that the previous decision was set aside and that his case must be heard again at the First-tier Tribunal.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
UFC on ABC 8's Muhammad Naimov draws 'extra energy' fighting closer to Tajikistan
Muhammad Naimov is proud to be one the few fighters from Tajikistan in UFC, but believes many more will be there soon. Currently, Naimov (12-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) is just one of four fighters from the Central Asian country. Nurullo Aliev, Muin Gafurov and Loik Radzhabov are the other three Tajik representatives on the UFC roster. Advertisement "Three years ago, four years ago, five years ago, all Tajik people, we all watch UFC," Naimov said at the UFC on ABC 8 media day. "... UFC for us, it was like something different. It was really hard to get to UFC, and in one year, four Tajik people get signed by UFC. So, it's always hard to shoulder and show up, but I always telling myself, I'm fighting for myself first of all. Second thing I represent my name, my family, and then my country. "So, if you think like this, you're not going to perform good: 'All Tajik people watching me.' No, this is energy for me. I really like it. I know Saturday night in Tajikistan, all people around Tajikistan like in villages, in my motherland Kulob city and also in Dushanbe – everybody in restaurants, cafes, cinema, everywhere they're gonna watch the fight. That's like extra energy for me." In his second appearance of 2025, Naimov faces Bogdan Grad (15-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) in the main card opener of UFC on ABC 8 (ABC, ESPN, ESPN+), which takes place Saturday at Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan. It's the closest Naimov has been to home for a fight since signing with the UFC. He expects to see many people from his home country in the crowd, and hopes his performance will help fuel the upcoming generation of fighters. "MMA level is growing up every day," Naimov said. "Day by day, month by month, it's getting better in Tajikistan. We got very tough young generation in amateur in (IMMAF). They're becoming world champions, Europe champions, and also Asian champions. It's like great expereince before they start pro career. Advertisement "We are just four guys – four Tajik fighters from Tajikistan in UFC now. That's how you know people love us, respect us, they always show up for us." This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Baku: Muhammad Naimov draws 'extra energy' fighting close to home
Arab News
29-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan PM urges world to hold India accountable for ‘acts of war' during Tajikistan visit
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday urged the international community to hold India accountable for what he described as 'acts of war' earlier this month, saying the region could not afford New Delhi's 'irresponsible and unlawful actions.' Sharif made the remarks during a meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in Dushanbe, where the two leaders discussed regional security, economic ties and cooperation on climate issues. His statement came just days after a military confrontation between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan, which saw the two countries exchange missile, drone and artillery fire between them. Sharif arrived in Tajikistan's capital on the final leg of a five-day regional diplomacy tour that earlier took him to Türkiye, Iran and Azerbaijan, as Islamabad seeks to reinforce strategic ties and shore up support following the South Asian standoff. He was received in Dushanbe by Tajik Prime Minister Qohir Rasulzoda and later attended a bilateral meeting with President Rahmon at the Qasr-e-Millat. 'The Prime Minister underscored that our region could not afford India's irresponsible and unlawful actions since 7 May 2025, which amounted to acts of war and violation the UN Charter and international law,' a statement released by his office said after the meeting. 'The Prime Minister urged the international community to hold India accountable, reiterating that Pakistan desires peace, but will defend its sovereignty with full resolve if challenged.' President Rahmon, expressing concern over the recent conflict, said he was 'very worried' about the events of early May and praised Sharif's leadership in helping restore peace and stability. He also called Pakistan a 'trusted partner' and reaffirmed Tajikistan's commitment to deepening cooperation across all sectors. The two leaders reviewed progress under the Strategic Partnership Agreement signed in 2024 and pledged to expand collaboration in trade, defense, education, technology and counterterrorism. They also agreed to accelerate work on the CASA-1000 energy project, a regional initiative to transmit surplus hydroelectric power from Central Asia to South Asia, which they termed a 'pivotal initiative' for regional integration. Sharif underscored Pakistan's push for deeper connectivity with Central Asia through infrastructure and transit links, citing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a linchpin of that strategy. He also briefed the Tajik president on Pakistan's role in regional peace efforts and acknowledged Tajikistan's leadership in water diplomacy and glacier preservation. The Pakistani prime minister is in Dushanbe to attend the International High-Level Conference on Glaciers' Preservation, where he is expected to speak on the impact of climate change on Pakistan and call for stronger global cooperation on environmental issues. Earlier this week, Sharif held talks in Türkiye, Iran and Azerbaijan, including a trilateral summit with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Lachin, where the three leaders pledged to deepen regional cooperation and transform fraternal ties into a strategic partnership.
Arab News
29-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan PM arrives in Tajikistan on final leg of five-day regional diplomacy tour
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe on Thursday, the final stop in a five-day regional diplomacy tour that earlier took him to Türkiye, Iran and Azerbaijan, following a recent military confrontation with archrival India. The tour has seen Sharif engage with regional allies to reaffirm diplomatic ties and economic cooperation, while also garnering support in the wake of heightened tensions with India. Sharif was received at the Dushanbe airport by Tajik Prime Minister Qohir Rasulzoda. 'Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has arrived in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, on a two-day visit,' his office said in a statement. 'During the visit, he will hold a bilateral meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon to discuss cooperation in various sectors and thank the Tajik leader for his strong support during the recent India-Pakistan tensions,' it continued. Earlier in the day, Sharif concluded his visit to Azerbaijan, where he announced that the Azeri leadership had reaffirmed plans to invest $2 billion in Pakistan and deepen collaboration in commerce, defense, education and health. On Wednesday, Sharif attended a trilateral summit in the Lachin district with Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The three leaders pledged to expand cooperation and turn their longstanding fraternal ties into a strategic partnership for regional prosperity. During his previous stops, Sharif also met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran to discuss trade, energy and regional connectivity. In Türkiye, from where he kicked off his regional tour, the Pakistani prime minister held talks with Erdoğan on defense, infrastructure and intelligence cooperation. Pakistan has long sought to strengthen ties with landlocked Central Asian nations by offering them access to its Arabian Sea ports, part of its broader push for regional connectivity and economic integration. The Prime Minister's Office said in its statement Sharif will also participate in a high-level international conference on glacier preservation in Tajikistan, where he is expected to brief participants on the impact of climate change on Pakistan and reaffirm the country's commitment to environmental protection.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Weekend Warm-Up: Crossing Dreams
Crossing Dreams, subtitled "Solo bivouac paragliding adventure in Himalaya," documents the recent exploits of professional paragliding coach Francois Ragolski. His attempt to follow a long route through and over the Himalaya covered 60 days, four countries, 2,580km and 113 hours of paragliding. Ragolski has been paragliding for 18 years and planning this expedition for six months. Like him, the movie is anxious to finally start, so it wastes no time launching into the first day of the journey. It's a solo trip, but he avoids self-isolation, stopping to speak and share meals with the people he passes. "I thought everybody here would speak Russian," Ragolski says ruefully, when his attempts to find a common language with two hunters in Tajikistan fail. "I was wrong, nobody here speaks Russian." But even with the language barrier, his friendly enthusiasm carries him through. "Everyone was so load you with so much good food," Ragolski says. Every few days, he meets locals, usually shepherds, who share their food and shelter with him. Left to his own devices, he mostly eats packaged noodles and dried fruit, so a hot meal and friendly faces are a welcome change. Ragolski spent months plotting his course on Google Maps using satellite images. But when he arrived in Dushanbe, Tajikistan to begin his route, officials stopped him. Government officials, military officers, and tour agency representatives told him the airspace he planned to fly through was simply too dangerous. They gave him a new route. It was less likely to get him shot down, but it was also longer and more difficult from a technical perspective. The route change lands him in an area heavily populated by wolves and bears, where officials warned him not to stay the night. But the wind and weather conditions ground him, and he passes a stressful night hearing the sounds of animals outside of his tent. Tired and hoping to avoid confrontations with the local wildlife, Ragolski hitches a ride into Pakistan. Some exceptions for bear and militarized airspace-related dangers aside, he aims to fly as much as possible. Doing that means landing -- and sleeping -- in places he can take off from again in the morning. This makes for some uncomfortable digs, but it's better than walking. "I am lazy," Ragolski jokes. After the stark beauty of the mountains, the intermissions in crowded urban areas are another kind of striking. Later, a two-week-long spot of rain grounds him in India. He avoids despair through ping pong and a bit of light tourism. "But as soon as I flew again, I was just so happy," Ragolski says when he finally gets back in the air on day 41. This is a frequent exclamation; his sheer joy at being aloft and moving forward is palpable. The point of going solo is that he can go at his own pace, taking his time to explore, to meet people, to avoid unnecessary dangers and complications. It's not a race or an exercise in self punishment -- it's an adventure. In the final days of his journey, Ragolski glides past famous peaks like Annapurna and Everest, marveling aloud. "Wow! What an adventure...I'm so so happy I came."
