DUSHANBE, August 10, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- Unidentified persons set fire to the office of the Islamic Revival Party (IRP) in the Vahdat Township, in the early morning of August 10, IRP’s official website reported on August 10.

According to the report posted on IRP’s website, unidentified persons threw gasoline on the office’s buildings and set fire to it.  “The fire that broke out at 2:00 am destroyed plastic window frames but the fire did not spread over the office,” the source said.

Police station in Vahdat has reportedly launched investigation into the incident.

Meanwhile, IRP’s website reports the government forces fired at IRP’s office in Khorog on July 24.  “They came to our office and swore dirtily at our brothers and sisters,” said Mahmadali Hayit, a deputy head of the IRP.  “Therefore, people have feared to visit the office these days.”

Besides, the website also reminded that a fire destroyed the party’s cultural center in Dushanbe – widely known as the “women’s mosque” – in October 2010.

IRP says a fire that destroyed the party''s cultural center in Dushanbe -- widely known as the “women''s mosque” -- was not an accident.

The building, adjacent to the party''s headquarters and its main prayer hall, was almost completely destroyed by fire on the afternoon of October 23, 2010.  The religious center functioned as the only mosque in Tajikistan that allowed women to pray alongside men.

IRP says the fire was not an accident.  They suggest the building was set ablaze deliberately.  IRP says the incident took place a day after officials from the country''s Committee on Religious Affairs (CRA) visited the center to tell the party to stop using the building for prayers.