DUSHANBE -- Seven activists of the Hizb ut-Tahrir religious group have been sentenced to prison in the northern Tajik region of Soghd, RFE/RL's Tajik Service reports.
They are accused of belonging to an illegal group and for calling for the overthrow of the government.
The court in the city of Khujand sentenced the men to prison terms ranging from three years and seven months to nine years and seven months.
Their lawyer, Azam Usmonov, described the court verdict as "too severe."
In last two years, some 20 people have been arrested and charged with being members of Hizb ut-Tahrir.