DUSHANBE, May 11, 2016, Asia-Plus – On May 11, a prosecutor in the trial of 13 leading members and activists of the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan asked for life imprisonment for Saidumar Husaini, Mahmadali Hayit, Qiyomiddin Avazov and Abduqahhor Davlat, according to
Radio Liberty’s Tajik
Service
.
The prosecutor asked the court to sentence the remaining nine defendants to prison terms between eight and twenty-three years.
Thus, he asked the court to sentenced Ms. Zarafo Rahmoni, the only woman among the defendants, to eight years in prison.
The next hearing will be held tomorrow.
We will recall that the trial that is being held behind closed doors began in Dushanbe on February 9.
IRPT deputy heads Saidumar Husaini and Muhammadali Hayit as well as the party activists Abduqahhor Davlat, Rahmatullo Rajab, Zubaydullo Roziq, Muhammadali Fayzmuhammad, Hikmatullo Sayfullozoda, Qiyomiddin Avazov, Zarafo Rahmoni, Mahmadsharif Nabiyev, Abdusamad Ghayratov, Sattor Karimov and Vohidkhon Qosiddinov are standing the trial.
IRPT leading members and activists standing the trial were arrested on September 16 and 17 after completion of the operation against the armed group of Abduhalim Nazarzoda.
In a statement released on September 17, the Prosecutor-General”s Office noted that they are suspected of abetting party leader Kabiri”s plot, saying that they had been arrested “to prevent more terrorist attacks in the country.”
In all, the Tajik authorities have arrested 23 leading members and activists of the IRP, 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 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 IRP”s official newspaper
Najot
(Salvation) and bans the distribution of any video, audio, or printed materials related to the party”s activities.
