In the case of Madina Halimova, a woman from Farkhor district in Khatlon province, who jumped into a river with her four children, two court hearings had already taken place before July 15.  During these hearings, Halimova confessed that she took such drastic action “out of jealousy” and expressed regret for what she had done.

On the night between June 29 and 30, the 27-year-old Madina Halimova jumped into a river along with her four children.  She was able to climb out of the water a little farther down the river, but the current swept her children away.  As of now, the bodies of three of her young children have been found, and the search for the fourth child, a 5-year-old girl, is ongoing.

Madina’s husband and relatives maintain that her actions were the result of “mental health issues.”  In a brief phone conversation with Asia-Plus on July 15, Sayfullo Halimov, Madina's father, once again suggested the possibility of a "mental disorder" in his daughter and mentioned that he had been summoned to court for questioning regarding her health and mental state.

However, Madina’s lawyer, Behrouz Aliyev, rejects the claim of mental illness, asserting that the woman is in good health.  He explained that the tragic incident was caused by jealousy.  In an interview with Asia-Plus, the lawyer shared some details provided by Halimova herself.

"That day, my husband bought a new car, took fiancée and her fiancé to Kulob city, and in the evening, I saw flowers and a suit with trousers in the trunk of his car.  I became overwhelmed with jealousy," Madina reportedly told her lawyer.

She also recounted the following to her lawyer: "That night, my husband received a message on his phone from another woman.  After reading his conversation with this woman, I became even more jealous.  Then I went and did what I did."

Despite this, Madina Halimova stated that she holds "no grievances against her husband."

"First, I threw three children into the river, then I took the fourth one in my arms and jumped into the water myself.  I remember when I dove into the water, I felt uneasy, so I let go of the child, grabbed a bush, and managed to climb out.  I stayed in the forest crying until morning," she described the events.

According to her lawyer, criminal proceedings have been instituted against Madina Halimova under Article 104 of Tajikistan’s Criminal Code – murder; and she is currently in custody.  This article prescribes punishment in the form of imprisonment from 15 to 25 years or life imprisonment.

Meanwhile, Halimova’s father reports that her five-year-old daughter, Latofat, is still missing, and the search continues.

As of now, the bodies of three of Madina’s children have been found in the Surkhob and Panj rivers – 3-year-old Zaynab, 2-month-old Muhammad, and 2-year-old Yosamin.

The information that a mother had thrown her four children into the river in the Farkhor district first appeared on social media, sparking a strong reaction from users.  The Emergencies Committee and the Interior Ministry confirmed the incident, but did not provide further details.

The incident has also been met with concern by the Commissioner for Human Rights in Tajikistan, Ombudsman Umed Bobozoda.  He expressed his worry about the “problem of violence and discrimination against children” and stated that this case requires “urgent measures to protect the rights and interests of children.”