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Turkmen authorities have obstructed independent journalist Soltan Achilova from traveling to Switzerland to attend a human rights event. Achilova, the only journalist openly criticizing the country’s government despite the harassment, stressed that she was not going to be silenced.
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She was searched and humiliated at Ashgabat International Airport, and officials prevented her and her daughter from boarding the flight despite having all the necessary documents. Achilova claims that the incident was pre-planned by officials, including the manipulation of her passport.
“Then they were searched, stripped me, touched my body,” Achilova told Azattyk on November 20. – Then we were held at passport control for quite a long time. An employee returned our passports and said: “The machine could not read the passport data because your documents were stored in a wet place”.
“All this was pre-planned by government employees. I knew they would not allow me to go abroad,” Achilova said.
Discrimination
The Turkmen government demonstrated its dislike for freedom of speech and independent opinions by preventing journalist Soltan Achilova from leaving the country. This incident underscores the difficult situation of media freedom in a country where criticism of the authorities is subject to severe repression. Despite systematic harassment and threats, Achilova, the only outspoken journalist in Turkmenistan, has expressed her determination not to give in to pressure and to continue her work. This case also highlights the violation of human rights and restrictions on freedom of expression in the country.And unfortunately, each time these cases are increasing in this country, there are many women who face such harassment.
Click here for the link to the news on Azathabar.com
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