Dushanbe, January 12, 2015, Asia-Plus -- The number of extremism-related cases has reportedly increased in Tajikistan.

“In 2014, the Supreme Court considered 25 criminal proceedings instituted against 35 people charged with extremism, which was 10 cases more than in 2013,” the Supreme Court head Husratullo Abdullozoda told journalists in Dushanbe on January 12.

In 2013, the Supreme Court reportedly considered 15 criminal proceedings instituted against 26 people charged with extremism.

Abdullozoda denied the report released by some media sources that the Supreme Court is allegedly considering criminal proceedings instituted against representatives of the banned opposition organization Group 24 as “baseless”.

“The Supreme Court has not considered the criminal proceedings instituted against representatives of Group 24,” Abdullozoda said, adding that such criminal proceedings could be considered by other judicial instances.  

We will recall that the Supreme Court banned Group 24, which is led by fugitive Tajik businessman Umarali Quvvatov, on October following growing government pressure on Group 24 after it used the Internet to call for street protests in the capital, Dushanbe, on October 10.

Supreme Court judge Salomat Hakimova ruled that Group 24 is an “extremist” organization and therefore is banned in Tajikistan.  Its website and printed materials were also banned.