Радио Озоди: Кабири — ПИВТ напоминает овцу, которая должна быть съедена волком

The article, published by Радио Озоди (Radio Ozodi) on 15 September 2015 and authored by Мирзо Салимпур (Mirzo Salimpur), reports a written interview with Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (ПИВТ / IRPT) leader Мухиддин Кабири (Muhiddin Kabiri), conducted while he was abroad. Article reports that in late August 2015 the Tajik Justice Ministry told the party it could no longer exist because regional branches had been closed and gave it 10 days to wind up. The party’s planned 15 September congress — at which new leadership was to be elected — was postponed after the security operation against the armed group of former deputy defence minister Абдухалим Назарзода (Abdukhalim Nazarzoda), also known as Ходжи Халим (Khoji Khalim). Article reports Kabiri stated property had been sealed, his primary concern was “the fate of my brothers and sisters in the party,” and that return to Tajikistan would not help detained relatives. In the interview Kabiri compares the situation to a folktale in which “the wolf will eat the sheep regardless of its documents,” and references a prior decision (protocol 32-20) suggesting the closure had been long planned. He is quoted saying the initiative came from the Tajik government with external actors consenting; and asserts he had been offered to step aside for a more “compliant” leader but rejected this. Article reports Kabiri described Ходжи Халим as a personal acquaintance and “former neighbour,” pragmatic and loyal to the government, and said he did not understand his motives. Kabiri refers to Зайд Саидов (Zayd Saidov) as a precedent of the government targeting even non-Islamic or non-radical figures. The article quotes Kabiri rejecting violent means, saying the party would remain committed to lawfulness despite expected confiscations and arrests. Source cited in the article: exclusive written interview with Muhiddin Kabiri conducted by Radio Ozodi.