DUSHANBE. June 3. “Asia-Plus” -- The Dushanbe court has just started to consider an appeal against conviction of a group of Salafia religious movement followers sentenced in January this year.

According to the Dushanbe city court, the convicted called the sentence to be very severe and are planning to appeal the decision.

Salafia followers, including their spiritual leader Sirojiddin Abdurahmanov also known as Eshoni Sirojiddin, were convicted on January 22 this year. Salafia’s leader was sentenced to 7 years in prison, while his son Kiromiddin Abdurahmonov was sentenced to five years in jail.

A total of seven Salafia followers were convicted to various sentences from 5 to 7 years in prison.

A group of Salafia followers, including informal leader of Salafia movement banned in Tajikistan in January 2009 Sirojiddin Abdurahmonov, was arrested in July 2009 in one of mosques in Zarafshon mahalla in Dushanbe.