KHUJAND, June 9, 2009, Asia-Plus– Another three Hizb ut-Tahrir suspects have been detained in the northern Sughd province this week, bringing the overall number of Hizb ut-Tahrir suspects, detained in Sughd over the past two weeks, to 19.
According to the Sughd police directorate, the 30-year-old resident of the Bobojonghafurov district Osim Kholiqov was detained in Khujand on June 7 on suspicion of being members of the Hizb ut-Tahrir group. When searching his car, police officers found three subversive books. The preliminary investigation has established that Kholiqov joined the Hizb ut-Tahrir party in 2005 and he was engaged in spread of the Hizb ut-Tahrir leaflets and literature among the population, the source said.
Criminal proceedings have been instituted against Kholiqov under the provisions of two articles of Tajikistan’s Penal Code — Article 187, Part 2 (organization of criminal group and participation in criminal group) and Article 307, Part 2 ((calling in public for forcible overthrow of or change to the constitutional order in Tajikistan).
Another Hizb ut-Tahrir suspect — the 30-year-old resident of Khujand Mirkamol Komilov – was detained the same day. When searching his house, police found three copies of the book entitle “Nizomi Islom” (Islamic Order). “Komilov had previous convictions on the charges of organization of criminal group and calling in public for forcible overthrow of or change to the constitutional order in Tajikistan,” said the source, “He rejoined the Hizb ut-Tahrir party in January 2009 and was engaged in spreading subversive leaflets among the population.” Criminal proceedings have been instituted against under the provisions of the same articles.
The third alleged member of the outlawed religious extremist Hizb ut-Tahrir organization – the 33-year-old resident of the Bobojonghafurov district Anvar Ashrapov – was detained on June 7 as well. He reportedly joined the Hizb ut-Tahrir group in 2004. Ashrapov had held a position of Mas’uli Kitob, the source said. Criminal proceedings against Ashrapov have also been instituted under the provisions of articles 187 and 307 and an investigation is under way.
