DUSHANBE, December 29, 2015, Asia-Plus –
Radio Liberty”s Tajik Service
, known locally as
Radio Ozodi
, reports the Prosecutor-General’s Office of Tajikistan has brought formal charges against Saidumar Husaini the first deputy head of the Islamic Revival Party (IRP), which was declared by the Supreme Court to be an illegal extremist group on September 29.
Saidumar Husaini faces charges under the provisions of fourteen articles of Tajikistan’s Penal Code, ranging from organizing a criminal group to polygamy.
Husaini’s defense lawyer, Ms. Sitora Azizova, reportedly refrained from giving her client’s case details. His relatives are also avoiding conversations with journalists.
RFE/RL’s Tajik Service
reports that Saidumar Husaini, in particular, faces charges of organizing a criminal group, participating in a criminal group, inciting national, racial or religious enmity, public calls to overthrow or forcibly change the constitutional order of Tajikistan, weapon seizure, murder, terrorism, exploitation of people, and polygamy.
If convicted, Saidumar Husaini could face up to twenty years in prison on these counts.
Husaini’s case is expected to move to a court next month,
RFE/RL’s Tajik Service
said.
We will recall that Saidumar Husaini was taken into custody on September 16 when boarding a flight for Almaty at Dushanbe”s international airport.
In all, the authorities have arrested 23 leading members of the IRPT, alleging their direct involvement into the September 4 attacks’ masterminding.
According to
RFE/RL’s Tajik Service
, the Supreme Court sentenced Hasan Rahimov, the IRP head in Khatlon’s Farkhor district to nine years in prison on November 30. The sentence followed his conviction on charges of terrorism, religious extremism. Inciting racial and religious enmity and illegally possessing weapons.
The ruling against Hasan Rahimov was reportedly the first sentencing for 23 IRP officials, who have been jailed or placed under investigation since the party was outlawed.
Tajikistan’s Supreme Court banned the Islamic Revival Party (IRP) as terrorist group on September 29 on the basis of a suit filed by the Prosecutor-General’s Office.
The Supreme Court ruled that the IRP should be included on a blacklist of extremist and terrorist organizations.
The verdict forces the closure of the IRPT”s official newspaper
Najot
(Salvation) and bans the distribution of any video, audio, or printed materials related to the party”s activities.
