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Tursunov, Parviz

Gender: .
State of concern: .

Who, Why and How exiled:

Tursunov, a professional footballer, left his country Tajikistan after he was pressured to shave his beard which he refused. Tajikistan's soccer federation barred Tursunov from taking part in the national championship in 2011 and later made him chose between his beard and his career in soccer according to his wife. She says Tursunov was accused of of Salafism in Tajikistan. The family moved to Dubai where they decided to move to a European country. They stayed three months in Turkey, then went to Ukraine (RFE/RL, 2018).

Category of exile: . (Definitions here.)
Alleged affiliation: Alleged religious extremist.

Which stages experienced: Stage 1   Stage 2   not Stage 3. (Definitions here.)
Date of most serious incident: 2018.
Violence experienced: .

Stage 1 details (accusations/ charges/ Interpol notice/ extradition requests):

In Minsk Tursunov learned that he was on a wanted list since November 18, 2016, issued by the Tajik authorities who accused him of “organizing activities of an extremist group” (Radio Ozodi, 2018).

Stage 2 details (arrest/ detention/ extradition):

From Ukraine Tursunov wanted to travel with his family to Poland via Belarus to apply for asylum. On September 18, 2018 upon arriving in Minsk he was arrested by the Belarussian authorities for he was sought by Tajikistan (RFE/RL, 2018). In Minsk he learned that he was on a wanted list since November 18, 2016, issued by the Tajik authorities who accused Tursunov of “organizing activities of an extremist group”. When being extradited he may face torture and ill-treatment. As Belarus did not see sufficient legal grounds to extradite him to Tajikistan he was released, banned from entering Belarus for ten years and sent back to Ukraine (Radio Ozodi, 2018).

International arrest warrant: .

Countries of transit, asylum and/or residence: , , , .

Current status:

Deported back to Ukraine in 2018.


Press sources:

Radio Ozodi, 2018 ‘Власти Белоруссии освободили бородатого таджикского футболиста’, Радио Озоди<https://rus.ozodi.org/a/29626444.html> [accessed 28 May 2019]
RFE/RL, 2018 ‘Belarus Detains Tajik Soccer Player Banned Because Of His Beard, Wife Says’, RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty<https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-detains-tajik-soccer-player-banned-because-of-his-beard-wife-says/29505185.html> [accessed 28 May 2019]