KHUJAND, January 16, 2013, Asia-Plus — In 2012, Sughd law enforcement authorities investigated criminal cases of 72 members of religious extremist groups, the Sughd chief prosecutor Sharif Qurbonov announced at a news conference in Khujand on January 15.
“Among them are members of Hizb ut-Tahrir, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) and Jamaati Tabligh, including two women and one minor,” the prosecutor said noting that in 2011, local law enforcement authorities investigated criminal cases of 10 activists of religious extremist groups.
In 2012, Sughd prosecutors investigated 1,220 criminal cases, including 117 corruption related cases, Qurbonov added.
Last year, 167 criminal proceedings were instituted in northern Tajikistan over illegal use of 43.3 hectares of lands. “Illegal use of lands cost the province more than 64.1 million somoni, which is 9.7 million somoni more than in 2011,” the Sughd chief prosecutor said.
Tajikistan saw a spike in militant activity in 2010 that led to the deaths of dozens of troops.
According to data of the Prosecutor-General’s Office, 144 people were arrested last year on suspicion of membership in extremist and terrorist organizations, including 36 members of Hizb ut-Tahrir, 11 members of Jamaati Tabligh, 76 members of the Islamic Movement of Turkestan, and 15 members of Jamaati Ansarullah.
