DUSHANBE, August 6, 2008, Asia-Plus -- Activity of international organization Mercy Corps in Tajikistan has been suspended for one month, Asia-Plus has learned at the Council of Justice (Shuroi Adliya).

The source at the Council of Justice said that following application from the ministry of justice, a court in Dushanbe’s Ismoili Somoni district on August 5 ruled that activity of Mercy Corp in Tajikistan be suspended for one month. 

“The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has applied to the court for suspension of Mercy Corps’ activity after Mercy Corps refused to submit the necessary documents of inspection of its activity to a MoJ,” the source said, noting that in accordance with the country’s legislation, the MoJ has the right to check activities of public charitable organizations to determine whether their activities are in compliance with requirements of the country’s legislation.  “However, Mercy Crops’ country office in Tajikistan has ignored the MoJ’s request.” 

The source added that the court had ruled that Mercy Corps should submit all necessary documents for inspection to the MoJ.      

Mercy Corps works amid disasters, conflicts, chronic poverty and instability to unleash the potential of people who can win against nearly impossible odds. Since 1979, Mercy Corps has provided $1.5 billion in assistance to people in 106 nations.  Supported by headquarters offices in North America and Europe, the agency''s unified global programs employ 3,500 staff worldwide and reach nearly 16.4 million people in more than 35 countries.

In Tajikistan, Mercy Corps has worked since 1994 to help communities in several areas, including preventing conflict, promoting healthy women and children, increasing food production and access, and supporting local entrepreneurship