SHUT DOWN BEFORE IT BEGAN: TAJIKISTAN BLOCKS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN JOURNALISTS’ CONFERENCE

On May 1, 2025, the Second International Conference of Women Journalists of Central Asia  “Voices of Equality: Freedom, Women, Media” was scheduled to take place in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, in observance of World Press Freedom Day. Instead, the event was abruptly canceled after a series of obstructions that organizers say point to growing restrictions on freedom of expression in the country.

According to the National Coalition of Women Journalists, which organized the conference, preparations had been underway for weeks, with agreements secured for the venue and participation confirmed by representatives of the EU, Germany, the UK, France, and leading independent media outlets in Central Asia.

However, just 12 hours before the event, the management of the Serena Hotel the original venue canceled the booking without explanation. Organizers scrambled to relocate the conference to the nearby Rumi Hotel. But shortly after the event began, hotel staff interrupted the opening remarks of ambassadors from the EU, Germany, the UK, and France, demanding that everyone vacate the premises immediately.

Neither the organizers nor the diplomats were given any official explanation. The event was forced to shut down on the very day it was scheduled to begin.

“This was supposed to be a safe space a rare one for dialogue on media freedom, equality, professional ethics, and the role of women in journalism,” said one of the organizers, speaking on condition of anonymity. “What happened today shows just how fragile those freedoms are.”

Darina Solod, editor-in-chief of Huq, was among the invited speakers. She described the event’s cancellation as “a stark reminder of how dangerous it has become for women to speak, assemble, or simply do their jobs as journalists in parts of Central Asia.”

International observers and press freedom organizations have expressed concern, calling the incident a deliberate attempt to silence dialogue on women’s rights and media independence.

The analytical platform “Oiina” strongly condemns such actions by the authorities that hinder freedom of assembly and the expression of professional and public opinion.

Freedom of speech is not just a right it is the foundation of democracy. Its restriction is a direct blow to universal values and a clear sign of a government turning away from its international commitments to human rights.

Organizers say they are preparing a formal appeal to Tajik authorities and plan to hold the conference in an alternative format in the near future.