KHUJAND, February 16, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Four members of the cell of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) in the Isfara district, Sughd province have been handed prison terms between 8 and 30 years.

Justice Nasimjon Ehsonov, who took in the trial, told Asia-Plus today that four residents of the isfara district – Abdujamil Ahmadov, Muzaffar Ahmadov, Abdurahmon Qayumov and Nasibulloh Zabirzod – stood trial that ended in Khujand on February 15.

The Sughd regional court ruled that the 28-year-old Abdujamil Ahmadov be given a jail term of 30 years and that he will serve it in a high-security penal colony.  The sentence followed his conviction on the charges of organization of criminal grouping, organization of illegal armed formation, calls for the forcible overthrow of or change to the constitutional order in Tajikistan, illegally bearing, possessing, and acquiring weapons, preparation fro crime or attempt crime, and killing.

According to the judge, Abdujamil Ahmadov joined the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan in May 2005 and was detained in a special operation carried out by law enforcement officers in Isfara on October 22, 2009.

The 39-year-old Muzaffar Ahmadov was sentenced to 15 years in prison.  He was charged with complicity in a crime, organization of criminal grouping and illegally bearing, possessing, and acquiring weapons.

“Muzaffar Ahmadov joined the IMU in June 2009 at the call of his nephew Abdujamil Ahmadov and he was also detained on October 22, 2009,” Ehsonov said.

The 38-year-old Abdurahmon Qayumov was found guilty of the same charges (complicity in a crime, organization of criminal grouping and illegally bearing, possessing, and acquiring weapons) and was sentenced to 17 years in prison.

“Abdurahmon Qayumov joined the IMU in February 2009 at the call of his brother, the IMU activist Abdufattoh Qayumov, who was killed in an operation carried out by the law enforcement officers in Isfara,” said Justice Ehsonov, “Abdurahmon Qayumov was detained in Isfara on October 20, 2009.”

Muzaffar Ahmadov and Abdurahmon Qayumov will also serve their terms in a high-security penal colony.

The 17-year-old Nasibulloh Zabirzod was handed a prison term of 8 years.  The sentence followed his conviction on the charges of complicity in a crime and participation in criminal grouping.  He will serve his term in a conventional prison.

“Nasibulloh Zabirzod who was mainly providing his uncle Abdurahmon Qayumov with food products was detained on October 26, 2009,” the judge said.