DUSHANBE, September 28, 2014, Asia-Plus -- The Council of Ulamo (an Islamic council that issues fatwas and religious guidance to Islamic religious organizations) of Tajikistan’s Islamic Center has issued the fatwa, or religious edict, against the anti-government agitation.

Under this fatwa, cooperation with media aiming to destabilize society will be judge a great sin.  

Saidmukarram Abduqodirzoda, the head of the Council of Ulamo and Tajikistan’s chief mufti, read out the fatwa during his Friday sermon at the main mosque in Dushanbe on September 26.

Tajik Muslim cleric noted that agitation against the authorities, provocations for the purpose of destabilizing the situation and undermining public tranquility and people’s unity “will be judged a great sin.”

Cooperation with domestic and international organizations and political parties aiming to undermine public tranquility in the country will also be judged a great sin, Abduqodirzoda noted.

Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service reports that Tajikistan’s opposition Islamic Revival Party (IRP) said the fatwa was “dictated by the authorities.”

Tajik authorities are alarmed at what they see as the radicalization of young Muslims amid widespread unemployment.

Over the past three months, some 10 Tajiks have reportedly been reported killed while fighting on the side of the opposition in Syria.

We will recall that the Council of Ulamo on September 25 issued the fatwa against the participation of Tajik nationals in the armed conflicts in the Middle East, including the wars in Syria and Iraq.  The fatwa reportedly notes that participation of citizens of the country in the armed conflicts in the Middle East, including the wars in Syria and Iraq is judged a great sin.