DUSHANBE, September 11, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Umarali Hisaynov, the first deputy head of the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan (IRPT) also member of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament), questions existence of the Islamist group, Jamaat Ansarullah in Tajikistan, that has claimed the responsibility for the Khujand attack.

“I doubt that organization with this name operates in Tajikistan,” said Mr. Hisaynov.  “As far as I know, there is no organization with such name even among religious organizations that are banned in the country, and I doubt that such organization exists anywhere in the world.”

He stressed that all religions, and especially Islam, condemn killing and suicide.  “And I am sure that real Muslims have nothing to do with such violence.”      

Hisaynov added that attempts to slander Islam showed an upward tendency lately.  In such cases, enemies of Islam think up any organization with Arabic name and throw the blame for crime that rational person cannot commit on this organization,” he said.