DUSHANBE, April 22, 2013, Asia-Plus — The Islamic Revival Party (IRP) offers a reward for information about persons who attacked and severely beat IRP deputy leader Mahmadali Hayit on April 19.
IRP leader Muhiddin Kabiri stated this at a press conference in IRP’s headquarters in Dushanbe on April 22.
According to him, the attack was masterminded by the third force that is interested in destabilization of the situation in Tajikistan.
“This attack was perpetrated in advance,” said Kabiri. “We condemn this action. These persons know well that if anything happens to representatives of the former Tajik opposition, a shadow of suspicion will fall on the authorities, and vice versa, if anything happens to representatives of the authorities, a shadow of suspicion will fall on the former Tajik opposition.”
IRP leader also noted that the attack could be connected with the upcoming annual president’s appeal to parliament scheduled for April 26. “They apparently want the president focus in his address to the parliament mainly on the problems of security and instability in society and the country,” Kabiri said.
IRP leader, however, noted that the main goal of that attack was to provoke the Islamic Revival Party into hard-line response.
He further added that the IRP was ready to add 10,000 U.S. dollars to the sum that will be offered by the Interior Ministry for information about persons who had severely beaten Mahmadali Hayit.
The IRP deputy head Mahmadali Hayit was kicked and beaten by several unidentified attackers outside his home on the evening of April 19.
“Several people attacked the deputy head of the IRP just outside his house. They beat him and kicked him, he was all covered in blood,” Hikmatullo Sayfullozoda, another leading IRP member, was quoted as saying by Reuters. “The reason behind the beating is his active political activism, his civic opposition, his opposition to the current authorities,” Sayfullozoda told Reuters.
We will recall that Hikmatullo Sayfullozoda, who is a member of the IRP political council and editor of its newspaper,
Najot
, was also severely beaten in February 2011. On February 7, 2011, he was attacked on his way to the
Najot’s
office in Dushanbe. According to him, he was set upon by two assailants after a third person approached him and attempted to distract him. He suffered a blow to the skull and severe bruising around his eyes and mouth.
Freedom House has called on the government of Tajikistan to investigate thoroughly and without prejudice the beating of Mahmadali Hayit.
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 50,000 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.
