DUSHANBE, April 25, 2013, Asia-Plus – The Islamic Revival Party (IRP) says local authorities continue making pressure on its members in the provinces.

The State Committee for National Security (SCNS)’s office in Sughd and the department on religious affairs at the Khujand mayor’s offices did not allow female members of IRP’s organization for Khujand to hold a planned meeting on April 24.

“Representatives of the Khujand sanitary and epidemiological station and the firefighting department conducted inspections at the premises, which are usually used for holding the party meetings,” Nematjon Ochilov, the head of the IRP’s organization for Khujand said.

Naimjon Samiyev, the head of the IRP’s organization for Sughd province, says the similar situation was reported in the Ayni district as well.  According to him, the Ayni district administration also did not allow the IRP’s organization fro Sughd to hold its meeting in the district.

Hikmatullo Sayfullozoda, the member of the IRP Political Council, notes that the head of the party organization for the Vahdat Township was summoned to the district administration on April 24 and they warned him against participation in the events dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the party.

“They also recommended that he should not send other members of the organization to the jubilee events,” Sayfullozoda told Asia-Plus in an interview.

According to him, the Tajik Embassy in Kabul has refused to issue visas to Salahuddin and Burhamuddin Rabbani, the sons of Afghan peace talks chief Burhanuddin Rabbani, who were invited to attend the events dedicated to the IRP jubilee.  “Representatives of our embassy in Kabul offered them to visit Tajikistan another time,” Sayfullozoda added.