KHUJAND, May 29, 2014, Asia-Plus – Resident of the northern city of Isfara, Mahmadullo Kholov, who is charged with raping his stepdaughters, has reportedly died in the Khujand pretrial detention facility.

“Mahmadullo Kholov died on May 9 and according to the results of the forensic medical examination, he died of heart attack,” the Khujand pretrial detention facility chief, Olimjon Saydaliyev, told Asia-Plus in an interview.

We will recall that on February 7 and 8, two national television channels – Shabakai Avval (Channel One) and Safina (Vessel) reported an Islamic Revival Party (IRP) member in the northern town of Isfara had raped his two stepdaughters and one of them was pregnant as a result.  The reports showed the suspect''s IRPT membership card.

The IRP said the suspect, Mahmadullo Kholov, was never an IRP member and that the serial number of the card shown in the state television reports was for a card belonging to a female IRP member in Isfara named Aziza Soliyeva.

The IRP said the card was a fake printed by the Interior Ministry.