TAJIK ISLAMIC PARTY LEADER VIGOROUSLY DENIES BIN LADEN LINK
A Q&A with Said Abdullo Nuri, head of the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan: 2/13/02

Against the backdrop of the US-led anti-terrorism campaign, Central Asian governments have tightened control over religious activities. A crackdown against Islamic radicals has been in progress for almost three years in Uzbekistan. In Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, legislation is pending that would make it easier for authorities to exert control over clerics, as well as ban unregistered religious groups. The only Central Asian nation where an Islamic political party is active is in Tajikistan, where, under terms of the 1997 peace accords that ended a bitter civil war, loyalists to President Imomali Rahmonov share power with representatives of the United Tajik Opposition (UTO). A chief component of the UTO is the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT). The party's leader, Said Abdullo Nuri, recently spoke to EurasiaNet about Islam in Central Asia, and his own personal connections with terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden. The text of his comments follows:

EurasiaNet: What are the roots of and causes for the phenomenon of "Islamic terrorism?"
Nuri: First of all, I would like to note that terrorism from whomever it emanates must be strongly condemned. In my opinion, terrorism is a crime, and it must not be related to any country, way of life, traditions or religion. Therefore, it would be incorrect to speak about Islamic, Christian, or Communist terrorism. Islam condemns terrorism, and it is against any unsanctioned murder of human being[s]. … Therefore, let us not relate terrorism to any religion. In my opinion, we have to distinguish two things: there [is] terrorism itself as a phenomenon being condemned by the whole world community, and there is armed resistance by people [who] fight for their independence and their rights.

EurasiaNet: What do you think about the US-led anti-terrorist operation in Afghanistan? Do you believe that the Taliban Movement is destroyed completely? What must be done for the establishment of firm peace in this country?
Nuri: The events that occurred in the United States are problems not only of this country but they are problems of the whole world. The United States is one of the most powerful countries in the world and is equipped with the latest security systems. When this tragedy occurred [September 11], people throughout the world unexpectedly recognized that even the latest technologies couldn't protect them against terrorist acts. Beyond doubt the United States has the right to respond to these terrorist acts in any way. But only on condition that the real organizers of these terrorist acts are identified and that the retaliatory operation does not harm innocent people. Besides, this operation should be carried out under the umbrella of the United Nations.

…We think the US military presence in Central Asia and Afghanistan must be temporary. But so far, I cannot consider the operation completed because the leader of al Qaeda has not been detained yet. Nevertheless I welcome the formation of the Afghan Interim Administration and the cessation of the senseless fratricidal war [in Afghanistan]. I think that Islam must become the main peace-building ideology for this multinational country.

EurasiaNet: Recently you have denied a statement made by a former CIA officer that alleged you mediated negotiations between bin Laden and Iranian intelligence officers. Can you comment on the allegation?
Nuri: Indeed, the Reuters Agency recently spread through [the] Internet a report about a new book by Robert Baer, in which he [the author] claims that I allegedly mediated in those negotiations. I want to stress again that I don't know Osama bin Laden and have never met and maintained contacts with him. When we had been living for five years in Afghanistan, bin Laden, despite all his wealth, had not offered even a piece of bread to our refugees. We have not even heard about him. He arrived in Afghanistan in 1996 when we were already returning home from emigration.

After 1996, I went to Afghanistan only one time - to sign with President Rahmonov a peace agreement in Khosdeh. After that, our inter-Tajik peace negotiations took place in Moscow, and I did not return to Afghanistan. … It is to be regretted that Reuters published this unchecked information because the accusation of supporting international terrorism is quite serious. My deputy met with the US Deputy Chief of Mission to Tajikistan to discuss this topic. The American diplomat stated that the United States was very friendly to the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan and, in near future, it planned to invite the leader of the IRPT to visit the United States. He officially stated that the United States didn't have any grievance against our party, or against me as its leader. But in any case this Reuters report has had a negative influence … and I will apply for justice to relevant international structures.

EurasiaNet: Could the allegations be connected to the fact that the Islamic Renaissance Party maintained an office in Kabul when the city was under the control of the Taliban?
Nuri: During the civil conflict in Tajikistan, when the United Tajik Opposition took refuge in Afghanistan, we had our representative office in Kabul, starting in 1993. After the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan, our office stopped its activity. We adopted a position of neutrality and did not get involved in the inter-Afghan conflict. But we tried to maintain contacts with the Taliban. It was of great importance for us because at that time our refugees were moving though the territory of this country [Afghanistan]. … Sometimes, we conducted negotiations with individual representatives of the Taliban Movement to discuss issues related to our refugee problems. I had contact with high-ranking officials of the Taliban Movement only once. It happened when our delegation flew by UN plane for negotiations with President Rahmonov in Khosdeh.

That time, the Taliban's warplanes forced our plane to land in Kandahar. I had a 45-minute meeting with Mullah Omar. At that meeting I got acquainted with him; then he asked me which mazhab of Islam I follow and put some question[s] on religious subjects. Then he asked us about the purpose of our trip. I told him that we had arrived in Afghanistan to contract peace with [the] Tajik Government. He also asked for advice what Afghans have to do to re-establish peace in the country. I said that Afghans have also to come to peace through negotiations - you all are children on one soil, and Muslims professing the same mazhab of "Hanafiya." I said, "Your problems don't have a military solution, and you have to create the centralized state through negotiations." He refused my proposal, saying that the only way was to form a strong army and take power by force. We were speaking in Persian although he didn't know it well. The opinion has grown in me that he doesn't have thorough knowledge of religion. As far as his political knowledge level is concerned, it appeared to be below the average. It was our first and last meeting with the leader of the Taliban Movement.

EurasiaNet: Your party is the only religious party that is officially registered in Central Asia. Neighboring countries assert that politicized Islam may pose a threat to stability. What is your opinion on this subject?
Nuri: I think such statements are pursuing only one end - [incumbent authorities'] monopolization of power. Our Party represents interests of a certain part of Muslims. Why can't they express their opinion freely? They are the same citizens and enjoy the same rights. It would be anti-democratic to deprive them of the right to participate in [the] political life of the country.

Editor's Note: Umed Babakhanov and Marat Mamadshoyev conducted the interview with Abdullo Nuri.

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Posted February 13, 2002 © Eurasianet
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