Emissaries of the Hezb-e Tahrir religious-extremist party, which is banned in
Kyrgyzstan, have appeared in the remote mountainous Districts of Osh Region
(Alay, Chon-Alay and Kara-Kuldzha) [southern Kyrgyzstan], Marat Imankulov, the
head of the Region's National Security Service directorate, said at a meeting
of representatives of the local state bodies and public organizations
yesterday.
According to the police, today more than 1,500 Hezb-e Tahrir followers are
registered at the law-enforcement agencies in Osh Region.
The heads of the law-enforcement agencies think that supporters of the radical
movement are stepping up their activities primarily among the unemployed and
the poor. "Under the banner of fighting terrorism, the West is attacking
the strong positions of Islam in the world," according to an argument
disseminated recently among followers of the underground movement.
[paragraph ommited]
"Forcible methods of fighting this dangerous movement are not very
effective. There is a need for joint efforts of various sectors of
society," participants in the meeting said in conclusion.