From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Fri Nov 17 2000 - 10:38:09 EST
Most members of Tajikistan's Uzbek Islamic party are ethnic Uzbeks - Iran
Text of report by Iranian radio from Mashhad on 16th November
Tajik Interior Ministry agencies have announced the arrest of another five
members of the banned [Uzbek Islamic] Hezb-e Tahrir party.
[Passage omitted: repeat of Asia-Plus news agency report of 15th November]
It should be said that this party has been stepping up its activities in the
Central Asian countries, particularly in Uzbekistan and in certain
Districts of Tajikistan lately.
Uzbekistan is known as the major centre of Hezb-e Tahrir in Central Asia.
Tajik security agencies have detained over 100 members of Hezb-e Tahrir in
the past year. Members of the party have been active in the north of
Tajikistan, in the areas bordering on Uzbekistan, in Dushanbe (the capital
of Tajikistan) and in western Districts of the country.
Most Hezb-e Tahrir members in Tajikistan are ethnic Uzbeks residing in
Tajikistan.
Source: Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mashhad, in Dari 0130 gmt 16
Nov 00
BBC Mon CAU 161100 ker/as
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