KHUJAND, July 15, 2016, Asia-Plus – 394 residents of Sughd province have joined Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria, Sharif Rahmon, chief of the Interior Ministry’s office in Sughd, told reporters in Khujand, the capital of Sughd province, on July 14.

According to him, 24 residents of Sughd have taken their wives and 44 underage children with them to Syria.     

Sughd chief police officer told reporters that 36 residents of Sughd province had been killed in fighting in Syria.

“Criminal proceedings have been instituted against 321 residents of Sughd fighting in Syria under the provisions of Article 401’ of Tajikistan’s Penal Code – illegal involvement of Tajik nationals and stateless persons in armed conflicts abroad and illegal participation of Tajik nationals and stateless persons in foreign armed conflicts,” Rahmon noted.