DUSHANBE, February 8, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Minister of Interiors Abdurahim Qahhorov and chief of the police department in Dushanbe’s Sino district have promised to detect and detain persons who attacked and severely beat the Islamic Revival Party (IRP) board member Hikmatullo Sayfullozoda, Umarali Hisaynov, the first deputy chairman of the IRP also member of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament), told Asia-Plus in an interview today.

According to him, Sayfullozoda feels little better today.  “Yesterday, Hikmatullo Sayfullozoda testified about the assault,” said Hisaynov, “Today afternoon, the IRP board will release a special statement over the attack on Sayfullozoda.”

Hikmatullo Sayfullozoda is also editor-in-chief of the IRP’s official newspaper, Najot , and a political analyst with the Dushanbe think tank, Dialog.

Nouriddin Qarshiboyev, chairman of the National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan (Nansmit), told Asia-Plus today that Nansmit condemns any case of attack on journalists and calls on appropriate agencies to thoroughly investigate into assault on the Najot editor.

“Nansmit, Tajik Journalists’ Union and Media Alliance will release a special statement over the attack on the journalist today,” Qarshiboyev stressed.