The leader of the Party of Tajikistan's Islamic Renaissance (HNIT)'s local branch in Gorno-Badakhshan province, Saodatsho Adolatov, has been sentenced to five years in jail.
The Vandzh District Court in Gorno-Badakhshan found Adolatov guilty of inciting ethnic and religious hatred on July 30 and sentenced him to five years in jail the same day.
Adolatov was arrested on April 14. In August last year he was attacked and beaten by unknown assailants.
The HNIT leaders consider the case against Adolatov politically motivated.
The HNIT is the only Islamic party in post-Soviet Central Asia that is officially registered and represented in a parliament.
