DUSHANBE, November 11, 2014, Asia-Plus — Investigation into the case of four Tajik nationals, who were detained in Egypt on suspicion of having links to terrorist groups, is reportedly under way.
An official source at the Tajik Embassy in Cairo says the pretrial detention of them was extended several days ago.
According to him, one of those detained is a student at Al-Azhar University and three others are tourists.
“They were detained in September after police found an army knife and other suspicious objects in their vehicle,” the source said, noting that the Embassy is following the situation.
According to the Tajik Embassy in Cairo, a total number of Tajik nationals in Egypt may be 1,000 people and most of them are students at Al-Azhar University.
Meanwhile, Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service reports that four Tajik nationals detained in Egypt in September have been charged with having links to the militant group Islamic State. The four Tajik men, whose names were not disclosed, were reportedly detained near the Giza Pyramids on September 19.
Investigators claim the Tajiks were trying to recruit fighters for Islamic State among tourists visiting the historic site, the embassy officials was quoted as saying by RFE/RL.
They were reportedly told police searched the men”s vehicle and found an army knife, a military uniform, and printed materials calling for people to join the militant group. The detained men deny any wrongdoing.
Tajik authorities have said that some 200 Tajik citizens have fought alongside other militants against government forces in Syria and Iraq.
