DUSHANBE, April 5, 2016, Asia-Plus – The Sughd regional prosecutor’s office has instituted criminal proceedings against six local imam-khatibs, who are charged with membership in the banned political parties and movements, according to the Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service , locally known as Ozodi .

The organized crime control department of the Sughd regional prosecutor’s office is investigating the case, a source at the Sughd regional prosecutor’s office told Ozodi .  The source refrained from giving further details of the case. 

The imam-khatibs, including two from Khujand, two from Konibodom, one from the city of Guliston (formerly Qairoqqum) and one from the Bobojonghafourov district, were reportedly detained last month.

If convicted, the imam-khatibs could face jail terms up to five years.