DUSHANBE, August 9, 2013, Asia-Plus – The pressure by the authorities on the Islamic Revival Party (IRP) through media, especially state television, has been increased as the November presidential election nears, a statement by IRP that is posted on its website says.

According to the statement, administrators of Khatlon’s Vose district met with local clerics on August 6 and two local residents said that their names had been put on the list of members of the IRP without their knowledge.  The statement says that one of them -- Hayo Ziyoyev – was admitted to the party on 2010 following his application.  The second person – Abdurasoul Egamov – has never been member of the IRP, the statement said, noting that 15 residents of the Vose district joined the IRP last month alone.

IRP leadership says the increased pressure by the authorities on the party and its supporters complies with the spirit of Minute 32-20 (transcript of a secret session of the government; this minute was posted on a number of websites in March 2012).

We will recall that Polyarnaya Zvezda published a political commentary, headlined "Tajikistan on the Eve of Revolution" in March 2012.  The article covered a meeting in which Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon allegedly ordered security services to increase surveillance of local religious groups and members of the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan.  The article also criticized Rahmon for growing authoritarianism, inattention to government corruption, and increasing poverty.  Several other websites republished the article shortly after.  Minutes of Rahmon’s meeting were also posted on Facebook.

Founded in October 1990, the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan was registered on December 4, 1991.  It was banned by the Supreme Court in June 1993 and legalized in August 1999.  Its official newspaper is Najot (Salvation).  According to some sources, IRP now has more than 40,000 members.  Since 2000, it has had two seats in the country’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament.  The Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan is the only Islamic party registered in CIS Central Asia.