Central Asia Hizb ut-Tahrir

1 central asia

1.1 afghanistan
1.2 azerbaijan
1.3 kazakhstan
1.4 kyrgyzstan
1.5 tajikistan
1.6 turkmenistan
1.7 uzbekistan
1.8 china, xinjiang

central asia

in central asia, party has expanded since breakup of soviet union in 1990s small group 1 of powerful organizations operating in central asia. region has been called primary battleground party. uzbekistan hub of hizb ut-tahrir’s activities in central asia, while headquarters reportedly in kyrgyzstan. estimates of party s size in central asia range 15,000 100,000.

hizb ut-tahrir banned throughout central asia, , has been accused of terrorist activity or assisting in terrorist activity. central asian governments have been accused of torturing hizb ut-tahrir members , violating international law in campaigns against group.

the party s primary focus in central asia socioeconomic , human rights issues , calling “justice” against corrupt , repressive state structures . there seeks “guide” central asians towards support re-establishment of caliphate. recruits unemployed, pensioners, students , single mothers; representatives of local power structures , can protect party cells surveillance , prosecution; , law enforcement personnel can facilitate access sensitive information .

among factors attributed ht s success in region religious , political vacuum of post-soviet society there; party s strong organization, use of local languages; answers provides problems of poverty, unemployment, corruption, drug addiction, prostitution , lack of education; call unification of central asian states. hizb ut-tahrir first started in central asia in ferghana valley in uzbekistan , ht members in former soviet union ethnic uzbeks.

in addition 5 ex-soviet states of kazakhstan, kyrgyzstan, uzbekistan, turkmenistan , tajikistan, adjacent republic of afghanistan, never part of soviet union, , chinese province of xinjiang, (or @ least traditionally in case of xinjiang) muslim majority areas of central asia.

afghanistan

ht supports taliban against calls 2 enemies of islam , muslims, america , britain, waged unjust war against poor , defenceless afghan people ... group active in schools , communities recruiting youth join taliban , other insurgent groups.

azerbaijan

hizb ut-tahrir thought have several hundred members in azerbaijan of 2002. dozens of members have been arrested. (azerbaijan considered west asian rather central asian many, many central asian states possesses turkic culture.)

kazakhstan

ht banned there in 2005 , has many fewer members in kazakhstan in neighboring countries—no more 300 of 2004.

kyrgyzstan

hizb ut-tahrir banned in kyrgyzstan around late 2004, time there estimated 3,000–5,000 ht members there.

until sometime before 2004 kyrgyz government tolerant of central asian regimes towards ht—allowing leaflet distribution—and ht central asian headquarters moved here uzbekistan. however, party increased in confidence , audacity , in october 2004 declared significant extremist forces in kyrgyzstan.

tajikistan

as of 2004 there estimated 3,000–5,000 ht members in tajikistan.

about 60,000 people lost lives in tajikistan s 1992 1997 civil war islamists , liberal democrats fought against soviet old guard , unrest remains of 2016. hizb ut-tahrir activity in tajikistan in north near fergana valley. in 2005 tajik government arrested 99 members of hizb ut-tahrir , 58 members in 2006. in 2007 tajik courts convicted 2 ht members , sentenced them 10 1/2 , 9 3/4 years respectively. membership in hizb ut-tahrir illegal , members subject arrest , imprisonment.

turkmenistan

as of 2004 ht had no noticeable presence in turkmenistan in part @ least because of nomadic nature of population, relatively shallow islamic roots in culture, , extreme repression of government. (as of 2013 american foreign policy council reports political islam in general has made little noticeable headway in turkmenistan.)

uzbekistan

uzbekistan has been called sight of main ideological battle of competition on region’s future . populous former-soviet central asian country, , possessor of region’s largest , effective army . ancient spiritual , cultural center of hanafi school (madhhab) of sunni islam, more religious other ex-soviet countries , area ht first set operation in central asia in mid-1990s . of late 2004, ht had far more members in uzbekistan other ex-soviet states, estimates ranging 7,000 (western intelligence) 60,000 (uzbekistani government).

ht has vigorously attacked uzbek political system , strongman president islam karimov, corrupt, shameless, hypocritical , insolent , evil jew, hates islam. terrorist bombings, in 1999 (killing sixteen , injuring on 120) , 2004 (killing 54) blamed in part on ht government , have led brutal crackdown.

the uzbekistan government has been criticized human rights observers detained ht members (among other islamists) without charge or trial lengthy periods, torturing , subjecting them unfair trials, , imprisoning thousands minor activities. however, ht has been accused of conducting brilliant public relations , propaganda campaign has framed fight between ht , karimov s government 1 between “peaceful” religious group engaged in “battle of ideas”, , government repressing religion torture, rather brutal attempts authoritarian regime combat radical ideology , anti-constitutional activities.

china, xinjiang

as of 2008, emergence of hizb ut-tahrir recent phenomenon in autonomous chinese province of xinjiang. according nicholas bequelin of human rights watch, party s influence limited southern xinjiang, seems growing . 1 obstacle party in xinjiang uighur activists seek sovereignty xinjiang rather union in caliphate.

as in other parts of central asia party has been designated terrorist government , banned.