KHUJAND, May 19, Asia-Plus – A court in Khujand yesterday sentenced 10 top figures in the outlawed religious extremist “Hizb ut-Tahrir organization’s network in the Sughd province to long terms in prison, ranging from nine to thirteen years.
The sentence followed their conviction on charges of inciting ethnic, racial and religious enmity and issuing calls to overthrow constitutional system in Tajikistan.
Mr. Ismoil Rahmatov, a judge with the Khujand city court, has told Asia-Plus the majority of those defendants were controlling the Hizb ut-Tahrir cells in the Sughd province and other regions of the country. According to Mr. Rahmatov, after serving their sentences they will be barred from being engaged in religious activity for five years.
