DUSHANBE, January 15, 2015, Asia-Plus – Mrs. Khairiniso Himmatzoda, the wife of the late Muhammadsharif Himmatzoda, who was considered the spiritual leader of the Islamic Revival Party (IRP), died in Dushanbe yesterday, aged 57 after a long illness.

“Mrs. Khairinisso Himmatzoda was born in the family of the prominent Tajik religious figure Ishon Tojiddin,” said Muhammadjon Fayzrahmon, a spokesman for the IRP.  “She was a loyal partner in life of Muhammadsharif Himmatzoda, who died in 2010.”

We will recall that the spiritual leader of the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan (IRP), Muhammadsharif Himmatzoda died in Dushanbe on March 17, 2010 at the age 59 after a long illness.

Muhammadsharif Himmatzoda was elected as the party''s first leader in 1991 after it was officially registered.  When civil war broke out in 1992, Himmatzoda left Tajikistan and joined the United Tajik Opposition (UTO) in exile, of which he was subsequently named deputy head.  Himmatzoda returned to Tajikistan in 1997 after the signing of an UN-mediated peace agreement between the government of President Emomali Rahmon and the UTO.

In 2000, Himmatzoda was elected to the lower house of parliament as an IRPT member. He was reelected in 2005.

When Said Abdullo Nouri died of cancer in 2006, Himmatzoda stepped down as party head to succeed him as IRP''s spiritual leader.

Muhammadsharif Himmatzoda had been suffering from cancer for four years.