Wahhabists. The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. Hizb ut-Tahrir. For the last 13 years, these have been names the Uzbek government associated with radical Islam and accused of religious extremism and terrorism. Now a new group, Tabligh Jamaat, has come under government and media scrutiny with eight of its members on trial in Tashkent accused of religious extremism. But independent experts say the organization is peaceful and has become a scapegoat for the anti-Islamic Uzbek government. RFE/RL takes a closer at Tabligh Jamaat and its ideology.
Prague, 20 December 2004 (RFE/RL) — The trial of eight Tabligh Jamaat members is a first for Tashkent.
But over the last six months, three trials involving its members have taken place in the Ferghana Valley, where the organization appears to be most active.
The eight Tabligh Jamaat members who appeared in court on 17 December were arrested in Tashkent in July and August. The deputy prosecutor-general has accused them of organizing an extremist radical group in 1998 whose goal was to conduct “jihad” against the government and establish an Islamic state in Uzbekistan.
Surat Ikramov, chairman of the Rights Activists Initiative Group, talked about the charges: “They come under Article 244 [of the Uzbek Criminal Code, which punishes setting up, leading, or membership of banned organizations]. Before this case, charges were usually about being connected to Hizb ut-Tahrir, Wahhabists, and ‘Jamaat.’ This time, officials aren’t using Article 159 [on religious extremism and attempt to overthrow constitutional regime]. Officials say that the accused were taught by members of Tabligh.
