Activists of Hizb ut Tahrir religious extremist party arrested in Tajikistan

In the past two days the law-enforcement bodies of Tajikistan have detained six activists of the prohibited Hizb ut Tahrir religious extremist organization in the north of Tajikistan.

The Tajik Interior Ministry's press center reports that four activists were arrested the other day at the marketplace in Isfar (Sogda Region). They were disseminating leaflets and books, which propagandized the activity of Hizb ut Tahrir and urged the overthrow of legitimate authorities and the creation of an Islamic Khaliphat on the territory of Central Asia.

The law-enforcement bodies seized 19 leaflets and 35 books from the detained persons. They had managed to disseminate a part of their literature.

A day before that the law-enforcement bodies detained two more activists of Hizb ut Tahrir in another area of the Sogda Region upon their attempt to transfer 20 leaflets.

As a source in the press center of the Tajik Interior Ministry noted, the detained are persons aged 19-22.

Since the start of 2003, the Tajik law-enforcement bodies have detained in the republic over 20 activists and leaders of the prohibited party.