Tajikistan Supreme Court Bans Salafi Islam Movement

Radio Free Europe reported yesterday that the Supreme Court of Tajikistan has banned Salafi, a branch of the Sunni Islamic movement, from operating in the country. A Supreme Court spokesman said: "In order to prevent national, racial, and religious conflicts and damage to the nation's reputation and honor, Tajikistan's Supreme Court, as of January 8, 2009, bans the Salafi religious movement's activities in the country as an illegal group." Salafis do not recognise Shi'ites or Sufis. Some suspect that Western nations have funded the Salafis in Tajikistan because of the Salafis' anti-Iranian stance. Most Tajiks follow Hanafi, a more moderate branch of Sunni Islam than Salafi. The Institute for Religion and Public Policy issued a press release condemning the ban.