DUSHANBE, April 18, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- A two-day meeting of the Islamic Revival Party (IRP) concluded at its headquarters in Dushanbe on April 17.

The IRP activists reportedly reviewed the results of the last year’s work and discussed the party’s tasks for the current year.

The meeting participants also discussed features of existence and functioning of Islamic party under conditions of a secular state, role of religious party in creation of democratic society, participation of women in political life of Tajikistan.

IRP leader Muhiddin Kabiri noted that their party decided not to participate in presidential elections that will be held in the country in 2013.  He, however, added that that decision was not final and could be changed at any moment.  “The party’s congress should take a final decision on this subject,” Kabiri said.

The Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan was founded in October 1990.  It was registered on December 4, 1991 and banned by the Supreme Court in June 1993.  The party was legalized in August 1999.  According to some sources, the IRP now has more than 35,000 members.

The Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan is the only Islamic party registered in CIS Central Asia. The party has two seats in the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament).