Kazakh trial for Islamist group

[almaty 19]

Kazakh trial for Islamist group

A closed trial of 30 alleged Islamist radicals has begun in the city of Karaganda, in central Kazakhstan.

They have been charged with fuelling ethnic and religious hatred, and running a banned organisation, Hizb ut-Tahrir.

The security services say they have evidence proving the 29 men and one woman are dangerous Islamist radicals.

The trial will remain closed while the judge examines the evidence and testimonies of more than 300 witnesses.

Even though the radical group, which has its headquarters in London, says it believes only in peaceful means to achieve its objective - an Islamic state in Central Asia - it is outlawed in all countries of the region.

'Dangerous radicals'

This is an important case, though not uncommon for Central Asia.

In this predominantly Muslim region prisons are full of people who are accused of being dangerous radicals.

Many of them claim they are innocent; some say they are not even practicing Muslims and that Hizb ut-Tahrir literature found in their houses was planted.

Islam is on the rise in Central Asia, but it has been impossible to measure how much of it is either radical or dangerous.

Governments insist that the threat is very real, but observers and especially human rights defenders say that it is often blown out of proportion.

They accuse authoritarian governments here of using the extremist label to suppress political dissent, and divert people's attention from widespread social problems.

in Kazakhstan, it is illegal to spread any hatered towards another ethnic group...and the government controls the mosques to prevent Islamic fundamentalism..also, illegal to slander jewish folks..as Borat knows...

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Go Kazakhstan. Fry the terrorists, the only true infidels!

[rclouse 0]

Khazakhstan, greatest country in the world

All other countries are run by little girls

Khazakhstan Number One exporter of Potassium

All other countries have inferior Potassium

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Borat rules that country with an iron fist. I like.