DUSHANBE, March 30, 2015, Asia-Plus — The Islamic Revival Party (IRP) Political Council today released a statement, in which it notes that calls for the closure of the IRP are unconstitutional.
The statement, in particular, notes that such calls run counter to Tajikistan’s laws and pose threat to peace and accord in the country.
“After achievement of peace and accord in the country, the IRP has never opposed the government’s domestic and foreign policy though it has always experienced pressure from the country’s authorities,” the statement says.
In its statement, the IRP Political Council asks the Tajik authorities to put an end to unnecessary rumors about the party and bring the rumormongers to justice for incitement of political and religious enmity.
We will recall that imams at some mosques across Tajikistan on March 27 urged Muslims to support the closure of the Islamic Revival Party. Some imam-khatibs called on believers to dissolve the party through a referendum.
Founded in October 1990, the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan is the only Islamic party officially registered in former Soviet Central Asia. The IRP was registered on December 4, 1991. It was banned by the Supreme Court in June 1993 and legalized in August 1999. Its official newspaper is
Najot
(Salvation). According to some source, the IRP now has some 50,000 members.
