DUSHANBE December 21, 2009, Asia-Plus -- The 8th congress of the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan (IRPT) that took place in Dushanbe on December 20 determined a party list of candidates for the 2010 parliamentary elections and party’s representative that will run single-mandate constituencies.

The IRPT leader Muhiddin Kabiri and the party deputy chairmen Sidumar Huseini and Vohidkhon Qosiddinov are at the top of the party list.  Among the party members put on the party list are also four women.

Muhammadali Hait who was third at the IRPT list of candidates for the 2005 parliamentary elections will run a single-mandate constituency.

We will recall that the IRPT had two seats in the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) – Muhiddin Kabiri and Muhammadsharif Himmatzoda; both of them came to the parliament from the party list.

Muhammadsharif Himmatzoda resigned in April this year in protest after some his benefits had been revoked.  Mr. Himmatzoda, who is unable to walk, was refused transport services that had been previously provided to him after he wrote articles critical of the country''s controversial new law on religion and religious associations.

Of 63 seats in the Majlisi Namoyandagon, 22 seats come from party lists. The remainder is elected in first-past-the-post races.

The Islamic Revival Party had a party list of 15 candidates for the 2005 parliamentary elections, while 20 of the party’s representatives ran individual constituencies.