DUSHANBE, January 31, 2013, Asia-Plus  --  Deputy of Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament, Muhiddin Kabiri, who is also leader of the Islamic Revival Party (IRP), is not going to apologize to the Dushanbe mayor’s office.

According to the Internet website Kimiyoi Saodat, Kabiri stated this during a meeting with Tajik students in Iran.  He was puzzled why parliamentarian and member of parliament’s environmental commission does not have the right to speak overtly about the environmental problems in the country.

We will recall that a court in Dushanbe’s Sino district considered a lawsuit filed by the Dushanbe mayor’s office against MP Muhiddin Kabiri on January 29 and ruled Muhiddin Kabiri must apologize to the mayor’s office.  Besides, the court has thrown out a counterclaim by IRP leader against the Dushanbe mayor’s office for 20 million somoni in damages.

Kabiri’s defense lawyer, Buzurgmehr Yorov, says the court’s decision was unexpected and unfounded.  “We will appeal against the court’s decision,” the lawyer said.

As it had been reported earlier, speaking at an October 10 sitting of the Majlisi Namoyandagon, MP Kabiri raised the issue of cutting down trees in the capital city.  Kabiri noted that practically nobody paid attention to the problem of cutting down trees in Dushanbe that is affecting the ecosystem in the city.  “Reinforced concrete buildings are being constructed in places of alleys and public gardens in Dushanbe,” the parliamentarian noted.

The Dushanbe mayor’s did not agree with criticism of the parliamentarian and demanded public apology.

For his part, Muhiddin Kabiri filed a lawsuit against the Dushanbe mayor’s office asking for 20 million somoni in damages.