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Tajiks Detained After 'Liking' Islamic State Video


KHATLON, Tajikistan -- Fourteen residents of Tajikistan's Yovon district have been detained for questioning after they clicked a "like" button on an Islamic extremist video that had been posted to the online Odnoklassniki social network.

An official in the Yovon district told RFE/RL on February 22 that the men were detained and questioned as part of an investigation into the video, which called on Tajik men to join the Islamic State (IS) militant group.

Ten of the detained men were released after an interrogation, while four remained in custody on February 22.

Tajik authorities say at least 1,000 Tajik citizens have traveled to Iraq and Syria to fight alongside IS militants.

Tajik officials also have raised concerns because the IS recruiting efforts appear to be attracting Tajiks at an increasing rate.

Authorities in other former Soviet republics of Central Asia also say hundreds of their citizens have fought alongside IS militants and other extremists in Syria and Iraq.

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

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