Tajikistan Sentences 34 Alleged Islamist Terrorists

A court in Tajikistan’s northern city of Khujand has convicted 34 alleged members of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) on terrorism-related charges and sentenced them to jail.

The charges included murder, attempting to violently overthrow the government, and membership of a terrorist organization.

The men were sentenced to prison terms ranging between eight and 28 years.

The IMU which says it wants to establish an Islamic caliphate in Central Asia had been active in the region, but moved its activities to neighboring Afghanistan in recent years.

Tajikistan saw a spike in militant activity in 2010 that led to the death of dozens of troops.

Based on reporting by AP and Interfax