Tatar Supreme Court Jails Hizb Ut-Tahrir Members

KAZAN, Russia -- Tatarstan's Supreme Court has sentenced several members of the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir organization, RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service reports.

One Tajik citizen and six Russian citizens were handed prison terms of between four and eight years, while four citizens of Kazan were given sentences of between three and one-half and five years. One defendant was found mentally ill and sent to a psychiatric clinic.

Investigators said the group operated illegally in Tatarstan from 2004-2006. The men were found guilty of planning to overthrow the government and of establishing an extremist organization.

Hizb ut-Tahrir is an international pan-Islamist organization that says it aims to achieve its goal of creating an Islamic state through peaceful means.