DUSHANBE, January 23, Asia-Plus — Followers of the religious Salafiya movement, which is considered in many countries as extremist organization, have appeared in Tajikistan, Minister of Interiors Mahmadnazar Solehov announced at a news conference in Dushanbe today.
According to him, this movement has not yet been banned in Tajikistan because its supporters have not yet committed any illegal acts. “Most supporters of the Salafiya movement in Tajikistan are young people,” the minister said.
International Religious Freedom Report 2007 released by the US Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor said that An estimated 5,000 Salafis practice in Dushanbe without interference from other Muslims or the Government
In the meantime, according to the Ministry of Interior (MoI), six alleged members of the outlawed religious Hizb ut-Tahir organization and 7 alleged members of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) were detained in Tajikistan last year.
Salafism (Arabic “predecessors” or “early generations”), is a generic term, depicting a Sunni Islamic school of thought that takes the pious ancestors (Salaf) of the patristic period of early Islam as exemplary models. Salafis view the first three generations of Muslims, who are Muhammad”s companions, and the two succeeding generations after them, the Tabi’in and the Taba’ at-Tabi’in as examples of how Islam should be practiced.
The principal tenet of Salafism is that Islam was perfect and complete during the days of Muhammad and his companions, but that undesirable innovations have been added over the later centuries due to materialist and cultural influences. Salafism seeks to revive a practice of Islam that more closely resembles the religion during the time of Muhammad. Salafism has also been described as a simplified version of Islam, in which adherents follow a few commands and practices.
According to WikipediA, Salafism is often used interchangeably with “Wahhabism”. Adherents usually reject this term because it is considered derogatory and because none of the adherents of Salafism in the past ever referred to themselves as such.
Salafism differs from the earlier contemporary Islamic revival movement of the 1970s and 1980s community referred to as Islamism, in that (at least many) Salafis reject not only Western ideologies such as Socialism and Capitalism, but also common Western concepts like economics, constitutions, political parties, revolution and social justice. Muslims should not engage in Western activities like politics, “even by giving them an Islamic slant.” Instead, Muslim should stick to traditional activities, particularly Dawah. Salafis promote Sharia rather than an Islamic political program or state.
