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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| Tajik Islamic party members resign in droves |
| 2015-06-27 |
| [RFE/RL] Party members and regional heads of Tajikistan's Islamic Renaissance Party (IRP) are suddenly leaving the party in droves. Dozens have announced their departures from the IRP recently, often by way of online videos in what appears to be a coordinated campaign. Most of the videos were posted online on June 18. Some blamed the party's poor performance in the parliamentary elections last March, which left the IRP with no parliamentary seats for the first time since 2000. Others said they were dismayed by a series of sex videos involving party officials. Still others simply thought that there was no need for an Islamic party in Tajikistan. Many of the online announcements end with statements of support and gratitude for the policies of President Emomali Rahmon. IRP leaders have blamed its current crisis on "government pressure" that has helped lead to the closure of regional offices across the country. In one video, Dilafruz Sharofiddinova said, "I'm the only one left in the ranks of the IRP in the town of Konibodom." After expressing her disappointment with the party for not doing "anything concrete for Islam," Sharofiddinova goes on to praise the government for opening new Islamic schools and mosques, as well as for the "prosperous economy". At the end of her clip, she announces, "I'm resigning from the party and I will join the ruling People's Democratic Party tomorrow." One video shows a conference in northern Asht district in which the IRP's activities there are officially ended. An official is seen declaring, "The party claimed to have 1,567 members in Asht. Now it has only 30-32 members left." In another video, it is declared, "We decided to end the party's activity in [western] Aini district after party members resigned, disheartened by IRP's poor performance in the elections [and] the scandalous videos that appeared online last year." Aside from the sex scandals, the video cited "atrocities committed abroad by certain groups that associate themselves to the religion." That mention highlights party members' reluctance to be associated with Tajik Islamists who left the country to join the Islamic State. Party officials are trying to put on a brave face amid the crisis. IRP representative Muhammadali Hait claimed, "These resignations were submitted under pressure and these videos were recorded under pressure by authorities," arguing that the resignations are thus not legally valid. Hait says the relationship between the IRP and the government soured after the IRP won more than 8 percent of the vote in 2010. He alleged that the government, which he says does not "tolerate any criticism," fears the party's "rising popularity." The ruling party, Rahmon's People's Democratic Party, won by a landslide in the March 1 elections that were marred by violations, disputed by opposition parties, and criticized by international monitors. IRP leader Muhiddin Kabiri subsequently left the country amid widespread speculation that the party would be shut down by authorities. |
| Posted by:ryuge |