DUSHANBE, December 9, Asia-Plus — The trial of 56 alleged followers of Jamaati Tabligh, a Sunni missionary group, began in Dushanbe on December 8.
Proceedings started with reading of the incitement, which charges them with organization of activity of extremist organization in the territory of Tajikistan rated they are charged with organization of activity of extremist organization on the territory of Tajikistan (Article 307’, Parts 1 and 2 of Tajikistan’s Penal Code).
The source at the Supreme Court of Tajikistan told Asia-Plus today that the trial is open, but it is being held at Dushanbe’s pretrial detention facility # 1 for security reasons.
We will recall that dozens followers of Jamaati Tabligh were detained in a mosque in Dushanbe in April this year. The same month, several members of this group were also detained in Khatlon’s Baljuvon and Bokhatar district as well as the city of Qurghon Teppa, the capital of the Khatlon province.
Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service reported on April 29 this year that Tajik Interior Minister Abdurahim Qahhorov said that authorities had arrested 124 Jamaati Tabligh followers throughout the country.
In January 2006, the Supreme Court of Tajikistan banned Jamaati Tabligh together with other nine organizations as extremist on the basis of a suit filed by the Prosecutor-General’s Office.
