DUSHANBE, July 19, 2011, Asia-Plus — The Islamic Revival Party (IRP) leader Muhiddin Kabiri, who is also member of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament), has reportedly attended a congress of the Saadet Party (Felicity Party) of Turkey.
According to IRP’s headquarters in Dushanbe, the 4th Congress of the Saadet Party was held in Ankara on July 17 and Kabiri attended the congress on Saadet’s invitation.
“In a statement released at the congress, Kabiri congratulated Dr. Mustafa Kamalak on election of him as new leader of the Saadet Party and made special mention of services of the previous leader of the Saadet Party, Necmettin Erbakan, who died in February this year,” the source said.
According to him, Kabiri also invited Mustafa Kamalak to attend the 9th congress of the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan that will take place in Dushanbe on September 24 this year.
Founded in October 1990, the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan was registered on December 4, 1991. It was banned by the Supreme Court in June 1993 and legalized in August 1999. Its official newspaper is
Najot
(Salvation).
According to some sources, IRP now has some 25,000-30,000 members. It won two seats in the 2010 parliamentary elections.
The Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan is the only Islamic party registered in CIS Central Asia.
The Saadet Party (Felicity Party) is a Turkish political party founded in 2001. According to Wikipedia, it is mainly supported by conservative Muslims in Turkey. It was founded on July 20, 2001 after the Virtue Party (FP) was banned by the Constitutional Court. While the party”s reformist wing formed the Justice and Development Party (AKP), the hardliners founded the Felicity Party. Although an Islamist party, its policy platform covers the whole span of political issues in Turkey.
During the period, Recai Kutan (July 20, 2001 – May 11, 2003 and again January 30, 2004 – March 29, 2008), Necmettin Erbakan (May 11, 2003 – January 30, 2004 and again from October 17, 2010 till his death on February 27, 2011) and Numan Kurtulmus (October 26, 2008 – October 1, 2010) were leaders.
The Felicity Party”s vote has reportedly been weakened by the success of the moderately Islamic Justice and Development Party government, although it has repeatedly condemned the Turkish government”s desire to join the European Union, military ties with Israel and the United States. It has argued that Turkey must adapt its military and foreign policy stance to meet what it argues are increasing threats coming from the West to all Muslim countries.
The Felicity Party”s policy platform is based strongly around Erbakan”s ideas and philosophy.
The Felicity Party works both as a political party and an enormous social organization. It has party branches in nearly every district, small town and city in the country.
