DUSHANBE, August 23, 2011, Asia-Plus — Commenting on the Country Report on Terrorism 2010, released by the US Department of State on August 18, Olim Salimzoda, deputy of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament), considers that the report findings are unfounded and may affect relations between the two countries.
“As is customary in the civilized world, Tajik authorities have never considered terrorists as their political opponents,” said Tajik MP. “Like in other countries of the world, including the United States, terrorists are enemies of the government and society but not their opponents. It seems to me that the report was prepared by persons who d not have enough information about Tajikistan, about processes taking place in our country.”
On the relations between the government and the opposition, Salimzoda noted that relations between the authorities and political opponents were constructive and did not have “a tinge of hostility.” “I am sure than nobody can name terrorists annihilated in Rasht in 2010-2011 opponents of the government,” he added.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan also considers that the findings of the report are far from reality. “This is position of the US Department of State but it is far from reality. Tajik authorities know what to do and how to do,” said Davlat Nazriyev, a spokesman for Tajik MFA. “All measures taken by the government proceed from present realities and yield positive results both in terms of building civil society and providing freedom of activities of religious associations. As far as issues of countering terrorism are concerned, an effective work is being carried out in this direction.”
“We are carrying out work, proceeding from our national interests and this work will be continued. We regret that our partners rush to conclusion, without thoroughly studying the situation in the country,” Nazriyev noted.
In the meantime, the report notes that severe weaknesses were exposed in Tajikistan’s counterterrorism strategy and its ability to conduct effective counterterrorism operations in 2010. According to the report, events in the Rasht Valley demonstrated that Tajikistan was vulnerable to an organized insurgency by well-trained and motivated terrorists, both foreign and domestic. The inability of the Government of Tajikistan to police its border with Afghanistan and deal decisively with attacks against government forces emboldened its domestic and foreign enemies. Terrorists, criminals, and fighters of varied allegiances effectively exploited Tajikistan’s mountainous terrain and domestic political rivalries.
Tajikistan’s counterterrorism policies were reportedly focused mainly on controlling Islam in society and increasing the capacity of Tajikistan’s military and law enforcement community to conduct tactical operations. The latter was undertaken with support from bilateral assistance programs with the international community. While the government maintained a list of banned groups it considers “extremist”, the list included several religious groups – including Jehovah”s Witnesses; Tablighi Jamaat, an Islamic missionary organization; and the Salafiya sect – that the government banned despite a lack of any evidence that members engaged in violent extremist activities.
The report says the Government of Tajikistan used counterterrorism statutes to suppress legitimate political opposition and dissent as well as to prosecute terrorists. Unfortunately, the judicial system in Tajikistan was also plagued by endemic corruption, according to the report.
The report notes that many of the government”s measures to counter extremism and radicalization restricted religious freedom. Various initiatives have been undertaken, such as banning the hijab in schools and a recent draft law prohibiting minors from attending mosques. Rather than specifically addressing radicalization and violent extremism, the government sought to marginalize Islam as a whole. Critics claimed that heavy-handed government tactics actually contributed to radicalization rather than deterred it.
