A 27-year-old resident of Zafarobod district in Sughd province has been jailed for driving an underage girl to suicide.

A court in Zafarobod district sentenced Umidjon Irisqulov to 5 ½ years in prison on October 30.  The sentence followed his conviction on charges of driving a minor to suicide (Article 109 (2) of Tajikistan’s Penal Code).     

The chairman of the Zafarobod district court Mirzosharif Hojizoda, who presided over the trial, says Irisqulov was putting pressure on a 10th grade girl so that she would become his wife.   

“He constantly watched her and didn't let her participate in school events.  Irisqulov was coming to her house and telling her parents so that they would forbid her to communicate with other guys,” said Hojizoda.  “Otherwise, he threatened to put her photo on the Internet and denigrate her name.” 

As a result, the schoolgirl broke down and committed suicide on April 15, 2019, Hojizoda added.