Policy Research Group-geopolitical intelligence,military strategic forecasting, terrorism: Tajik drive against Salafis

Tajik drive against Salafis
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editor on 08 July, 2009 01:08:00
 
Tajikistan has stepped up its drive at Salafis, who reject the
traditionally-practiced form of Islam followed by 90 percent of the country’s
population of 7 million.  The Salafis call themselves evangelists of the
“original Islam” of the Prophet, and have the creation of an Islamic state
as one of their main objectives.
Salafiya is a fundamentalist Sunni Islam movement that first appeared in
Tajikistan in 2005. Estimates put the followers at no more than 20,000. Most of
them in the 25-35 age group, have studied at major Islamic educational
institutions in Pakistan, Yemen and Saudi Arabia, where Salafis play a strong
role.
Tajikistan banned the group as a threat to the country's national security and
constitutional order. Under law, it is illegal to import or distribute any
audio, video and print materials on the movement's ideology, which calls for the
establishment of Islamic states.
Around 40 Salafis along with their spiritual leader Mullah Sirodzhiddin were
‘picked up’ on June 23 from one of Dushanbe’s mosques. According to State
Prosecutor General Khayrullo Saidov, police have information that the Salafi
fundamentalists have links to al-Qaeda and Islamic Jihad terrorist networks.
If the prosecutors can prove to the courts that these detainees are ‘bona fide
members of this illegal movement, then the perpetrators will be charged with
violating Article 189 of the criminal code”, Tajik  officials said. The
Article provides for up to 12 year jail term for inciting xenophobia and ethnic,
racial or religious hatred