KHUJAND, April 13, 2011, Asia-Plus — A court in Khujand sentenced Ms. Habiba Hofizova, 31, resident of the Kistakuz jamoat (community) in Bobojonghafurov district, to nine years in prison on April 12.
She was found guilty of active membership in the outlawed religious extremist Hizb ut-Tahrir group. The sentenced followed her conviction on charges of public calls for extremist activities, organization of an extremist group, and participation in political parties or public and religious associations that are banned in Tajikistan for extremist activities.
Habiba Hofizova has three underage children.
A source at the court says Hofizova joined the Hizb ut-Tahrir organization in 2000. She was reportedly involved in recruiting woman from Bobojonghafurov district into the Hizb ut-Tahrir party. “In October 2005, she was detained by officers from the State Committee for National Security (SCNS)’s office for Sughd on suspicion of membership in the Hizb ut-Tahrir organization,” said the source, “But since she had an infant, she was released after giving a written undertaking not to leave the area.”
However, she left for Dushanbe in March 2006 at request of her husband, who was serving his 9-year prison term for membership of Hizb ut-Tahrir in a penal colony in Dushanbe, the source noted. He was convicted in 2001 already. The husband wrote her from the penal colony noting that she should live in Dushanbe until he is released. In October 2010, Hofizova was detained in Dushanbe and transferred to Sughd, the source noted.
On March 11, 2008, the Supreme Court formally labeled the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir Islamist group as an extremist organization. The ruling followed a request submitted to the court by Tajik chief prosecutor. Although the group has been outlawed in Tajikistan since April 2001, the ruling means even tighter restrictions on the group”s presence on the Internet and its use of media to promote its ideology.
