In Tajikistan, 405 people previously convicted for liking online materials deemed extremist or terrorist were released from criminal liability in 2025. The figure was announced at a February 13 press conference by the country’s prosecutor general, Habibullo Vohidzoda, as reported by Asia-Plus.
“In 2025, amendments to the relevant articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Tajikistan concerning extremist and terrorist crimes were applied to 405 individuals, and they were released from criminal liability,” Vohidzoda explained.
Following the release of those convicted for “likes,” the number of extremist and terrorist crimes fell by 314 cases, or 23.3%, compared with 2024.
Criminal cases against citizens for liking content deemed objectionable by the Tajik authorities began in 2018, after amendments were introduced to Article 179 of the country’s Criminal Code (“Public calls to commit terrorist crimes and/or public justification of terrorist activity”). As a result, likes, reposts, and comments on materials related to extremism or terrorism were treated as evidence of involvement in criminal activity. These actions carried prison sentences of 5 to 15 years.
For several years after the amendments were adopted, authorities regularly reported detentions and prison sentences linked to online activity.
In October 2024, Emomali Rahmon criticized the practice of opening criminal cases for likes and reposts and called for it to stop. In April 2025, first deputy prosecutor general Umed Karimzoda reported that 1,507 people convicted for likes on online videos or comments on posts “containing terrorist and extremist content” were in detention facilities.
In May 2025, Rahmon signed a law abolishing criminal liability for placing likes or other reactions on social media.
