In a statement delivered at a meeting with representatives of the public in Dushanbe, President Emomali Rahmon noted on May 12 that more than 500 nationals of Tajikistan have been killed in military conflicts in foreign countries.
To-date, 675 Tajik nationals have been detained and brought to justice for illegal participation in foreign military conflicts, the head of state noted.
“Some our bewildered young men have joined terrorist and extremist groups and participated in military conflicts in foreign countries. There have been cases when people have traveled there with their families,” said Rahmon. “The majority of those who were in war-torn countries were killed in anti-terrorist operations and their minor children were left orphans.”
After crushing of the so-called Islamic State (IS) terrorist group in Iraq and Syria, part of Tajik nationals who were fighting alongside IS militants in those countries moved to Afghanistan, Tajik leader said.
“It should be noted that the majority of Tajik nationals fighting in Iraq and Syria joined the extremist groups while working as labor migrants in foreign countries, some others joined the extremist groups while performing the Hajj or studying at illegal religious schools abroad,” Rahmon noted.
“To-date, more than 3,400 nationals of Tajikistan have been returned from illegal foreign religious schools, but 400 other Tajik students are still studying at illegal religious schools abroad,” the head of state added.
Recall, the return of the Tajik students from Muslim countries began in August-September 2010 after President Emomali Rahmon said students at illegal Islamic schools too often “fall under the influence of extremists.” Rahmon advised parents to bring their children back to Tajikistan.
In August 2010, President Emomali Rahmon warned that foreign religious schools are indoctrinating Tajik students with radical Islamist ideology, and urged parents of madrasah students to bring them home.
