Text of report by the Kyrgyz newspaper Vecherniy Bishkek
[Agency headline] What nourishes extremism?
[Correspondent] Dzholbors Dzhorobekovich, aren't you afraid of living and working in Osh, which is now sometimes called, even if exaggerated, the "Kyrgyz base of the Hezb-e Tahrir radical party"? Have you taken you family with you?
[Dzhorobekov, chairman of the State Commission on Religious Affairs under the Kyrgyz government and a deputy of the Assembly of People's Representatives] Not in the least. I have taken both my wife Mariam, a doctor of philosophical sciences, and my schoolgirl daughter. My adult sons have stayed in Bishkek to work and study. I will say more, in fact, exclusively for Vecherniy Bishkek readers. It was in an ordinary teahouse in Osh that my deputy and I had a secret meeting with four Hezb-e Tahrir activists. My colleague and I tried to prove to those activists that their main idea of a global caliphate is totally impracticable. Their idea is anticonstitutional not only in secular Kyrgyzstan, but also in countries where Islam has been proclaimed the state religion, for example, in Arab countries.
[Correspondent] You recently became a haji, having visited holy Mecca. What does Saudi Arabia think of the idea of a global caliphate?
[Dzhorobekov] Two Saudi ministers, the minister of Islamic affairs, religious endowments, call and guidance and the minister of pilgrimage affairs, received me during my hajj in Mecca. I can state authoritatively that they took a clearly negative view of the idea. It is also known from the history of the feudal period that a caliphate form of state system resulted from wars of conquest. In modern conditions, the stability of the state's foundations is a high-priority task for any country, including such Islamic states as Saudi Arabia.
[Correspondent] Did your arguments quoting the Saudi ministers convince the Hezb-e Tahrir activists?
[Dzhorobekov] Hardly. The members of Hezb-e Tahrir are totally devoted to their idea. But I conscientiously continue to try to convince them. I recently received a Hezb-e Tahrir figure in Bishkek. I think we can convince ordinary members of Hezb-e Tahrir, who are largely hesitant, rather than those who are close to the party leadership. And representatives of the Kyrgyz clergy, who are highly educated people, who know the Koran and who deeply honour the laws of the Kyrgyz Republic, can successfully carry out the task of convincing them.
[Correspondent] So, apart from the State Commission on Religious Affairs, the Muslim clergy should play the main role in the work with Hezb-e Tahrir. This is clear and natural. Who else should resist religious extremism as represented by the Hezb-e Tahrir party?
[Dzhorobekov] The second powerful bloc is also linked with our commission and the republican muftis. We count on a start being made to increased funding of the State Commission on Religious Affairs, which parliament recently promised. We are ready to issue booklets, leaflets and other material jointly with the muftis' office. We will not turn down the assistance of a number of Arab countries and Turkey here. Since many Islamic countries have experienced a situation of combating extremism that is similar to ours. In some places, the fight was very cruel. Elsewhere it was waged by civilized means.
[Correspondent] What is the role of the Kyrgyz law-enforcement agencies?
[Dzhorobekov] Of course, it must be more high-profile. But, to be fair, I must point to the poor legislative base, which ties their hands. The line beyond which religious activities stop being lawful and become illegal and anticonstitutional was drawn indistinctly in the legislation.
[Correspondent] Some of our MPs believe that the executive is exaggerating the danger of Hezb-e Tahrir. What is your comment?
[Dzhorobekov] The attempt to overthrow the constitutional bases of the existing system cannot be considered "harmless". On the contrary, a tougher line must be taken against it. To start with, let Hezb-e Tahrir try to register as a party with the Justice Ministry. Then let it present political demands as part of a programme and rules that are officially registered. One other thing. In accordance with Kyrgyz law, not a single political party can be financed from abroad or be set up on a religious basis. Hezb-e Tahrir violates both requirements. Unfortunately, it is making use of the present economic hardship: poverty and unemployment. That is their breeding ground. I hope and believe that the situation will change.
[Correspondent] Since you have now moved to Osh, will the state commission dealing with extremism from other, non-Muslim confessions grow weaker?
[Dzhorobekov] My first deputy, Nataliya Shadrova, will continue to work in Bishkek. I plan to come to Bishkek once or twice a month. We keep an eye on all confessions. We carefully monitor the activities of the 20 or so main confessions in Kyrgyzstan. And we will not allow extremism from any side. We are now strictly monitoring the building work of all new cult structures - up to its compliance with architectural design and seismology requirements. We monitor the setting up and activities of all religious trends even more. Everything must comply strictly with the law.
Source: Vecherniy Bishkek web site, Bishkek, in Russian