QURGHON TEPPA, April 30, 2015, Asia-Plus — Four residents of Khatlon’s Jomi district reportedly fight n Syria alongside Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants.
“We have recently revealed one more resident of the Jomi district fighting in Syria alongside ISIL militants,” Tolibjon Nazarzoda, the chief of the police station in the Jomi district, told Asia-Plus in an interview.
“We have traced Isfandiyor Odinazoda, the resident of the Kalinin Jamoat, through social networks,” Nazarzoda said.
According to him, the 31-year-old Odinazoda traveled to Russia in 2014 seeking better employment opportunities. “He was recruited in Russia and sent to Syria,” the Jomi police chief said.
Nazarzoda further added that four residents of Khatlon’s Jomi district now fight in Syria alongside ISIL militants – Ahmedjon Ersaliyev, 26, Daler Khalifayev, 28, Rajabmurod Aliyev, 38, and Isfandiyor Odinazoda, 31.
Criminal proceedings have been instituted against under the provisions of Article 401 (1) of Tajikistan’s Penal Code, Nazarzoda said.
Tajiks, who return from Syria voluntarily and express remorse, are exempt from punishment under Article 187 of Tajikistan”s Penal Code.
The Interior Ministry of Tajikistan says 144 Tajik nationals fighting in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan have been revealed over the first three months of this year. Twelve of them have been detained and criminal proceedings have been instituted against them.
Tajik Interior Minister Ramazon Rahimzoda said last month that 50 Tajik ISIL militants were killed in Syria. According to him, there are 200 Tajiks fighting alongside ISIL militants in Syria and Iraq.
Meanwhile Edward Lemon, a doctoral candidate at the University of Exeter who tracks Tajik militants in Syria and Iraq told Radio Liberty on March 27 that he has found online evidence for 70 fighters. “But there are likely to be more who have traveled and whose existence has not been reported in the media. I think a figure of between 100 and 200 would be fairly accurate,” Mr. Lemon said.
Mr. Lemon, whose research examines the links between migration, religion, and security within Central Asian communities in Russia, noted that “it seems like many are being recruited in Russia.”
Mr. Lemon noted that most Tajik militants seem to be experiencing their first combat in Syria and Iraq.
