DUSHANBE, September 24, 2014, Asia-Plus – Twelve adherents of the banned Salafi religious movement have been convicted in Dushanbe.
The Supreme Court of Tajikistan sentenced the leader of the group, Karim Davlatov, to ten years in prison on September 22. The sentence followed his conviction on charges of organization of a criminal group (Article 187 of Tajikistan’s Penal Code).
Seven members of this group – Yusuf Tohirov, Ayub Sharifov, Jamoliddin Loiqov, Kamoliddin Loiqov, Habibullo Rahmonov, Anvar Lashkarov, and Rahmatullo Ghulomov – were sentenced to three years in jail each.
Besides, four other members of this group were fined 60,000 somoni each.
We will recall that Tajikistan”s Supreme Court on January 8, 2009 added Salafis to its list of extremist religious groups prohibited from operating in the country.
Tajik authorities are worried the movement will gain traction as it focuses its efforts on the country”s younger generations. Most of the movement”s local leaders are themselves in their 20s and early 30s, and came to Tajikistan after graduating from Islamic schools in Pakistan or Arab countries.
Salafis advocate a pure form of Islam that is said to be similar to that practiced by the earliest generations of Muslims starting with the Prophet Muhammad (Salaf means “ancestors” or “early generations” in Arabic). Salafis renounce innovations, alterations, and additions that were added in succeeding centuries to their “pure” form of Islam. Salafis do not recognize other branches of the religion, particularly Shi”ism and Sufism. The Salafis” rejection of Sufism has caused resentment among many Tajiks because Sufism has strong roots in Tajikistan.
