DUSHANBE, December 24, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Head of the Islamic Human Rights Center in Russia, Ghazali Kukanshoyev, released an open letter to Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, asking him to help Tajik labor migrants working in Russia  

The letter, in particular, noted that Kukanshoyev and his associates have been engaged “in protection of rights of oppressed and unfortunate Muslims in Russia for already ten years.”  The majority of them are labor migrants and most of these migrants are Tajiks.

Migrant workers who have not received wages for their work for six months or been beaten by skinheads or suffered from corrupt police officers just for another color of skin or another shape of eyes are visiting the center practically every day, according to the letter.

“With regrettable regularity, we help send cargo-200s (the zinc-lined coffins) to Dushanbe.  “I emphasize that more than half of those applying to our center for help are Tajiks.   Therefore, I appeal to you Mr. President, because only with you support we will be able to improve the situation regarding rights of Tajik nationals in Russia.  The majority of your fellow-countrymen are living and earning their livelihood in Russia, you know.”

Mr. Kukanshoyev also offers to set up a joint commission to help Tajik migrants solve problems facing them.

According to the letter, some 500 Tajik labor migrants have applied to the Islamic Human Rights Center this year alone; the majority of them have suffered from their employers or skinheads.