Tajikistan Detains Followers Of Unregistered Islamic Group

QURGHON-TEPPA, Tajikistan -- The head of the Interior Affairs office in Tajikistan's Khatlon Province says several members of groups related to the unregistered Islamic Jamaat-ut Tabligh have been detained in the Bokhtar and Baljuvon districts and the southern city of Qurghon-Teppa.

Tajik Army Colonel Shodibek Rajabov didn't say how many were arrested, but told RFE/RL's Tajik Service that most of the detained were released soon after their detention.

Tajik Interior Minister Abdurahim Qahhorov said last week that authorities had arrested 124 Jamaat-ut Tabligh followers throughout the country, of whom all but four were later released.

The four who were kept are accused of being members of the outlawed Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.