Families of death row prisoners are kept in a state of uncertainty about the fate of the person they love, often discovering that clemency was refused only when the prisoner has been removed without warning to the place of execution, and often when they are already dead.

"Relatives of death row prisoners are subjected to a form of mental cruelty, very close to torture," said Nicola Duckworth.

They have no right to see the condemned person to say goodbye before the execution and are deprived of all rights once the prisoner has been executed - such as the opportunity to collect the prisoner's belongings, or the body for reburial. They are not even told where the grave lies.

“Tajikistan has subscribed to the international system for the protection of human rights," stated Nicola Duckworth, "but blatantly undermines it". At least four people have been executed although the UN Human Rights Committee had requested a stay on their execution to examine their case.

Amnesty International calls on the Tajik authorities to commute all death sentences and to place a moratorium on executions.

For more information, please contact Amnesty International http://www.amnesty.org