Islamic Movement of Tajikistan
The Islamic Movement of Tajikistan or Harakati Islami Tajikistan is the branch of the Islamic Movement of Central Asia and an Islamist militant organization, that operates in Tajikistan. The IMCA, and by extension the IMT, is affiliated with Al Qaeda.
Intelligence analysts in the United States Guantanamo Bay detainment camp say it is linked to terrorism.
The now deceased leader of the Islamic Movement of Tajikistan, Tohir Yo‘ldosh, also had led Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.
History of The Islamic Movement of Tajikistan
The terrorist organization known as The Islamic Movement of Tajikistan was founded in 2009. The group was founded by its parent organization, The Islamic Movement of Central Asia. The organization was founded in the borders of Tajikistan. Upon founding, Tohir Yo'ldosh was appointed the leader. After the founding of the group the organization took roots and set up a base of operations in Afghanistan.Organization leaders
Tohir Yo'ldosh is the only known and documented leader of The Islamic Movement of Tajikistan. Tohir Yo'ldosh is also documented as being the leader of another terrorist organization known as The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.Claimed attacks
The Islamic Movement of Tajikistan has claimed responsibility for one attack. The attack was carried out in 2009 and targeted the police force of Central Asia. In the planned attack, the organization used a bomb as their weapon. In the attack, there were between 11–50 civilian casualties. And one Central Asia police officer was killed. About 50 people were injured as a result of the attack.Organization Member Activity / Convictions
During the Tajikistan civil war in the early 1990s, the Islamic Movement of Tajikistan became a notable military group. The conflict involved government forces and their supporters fighting against a group of opposition parties, including the United Tajik Opposition, which included both secular nationalist and Islamist groups. The IMT allied itself with the UTO during the war.The war was marked by brutal violence and atrocities committed by both sides, including massacres of civilians, torture, and extrajudicial killings. The conflict came to an end in 1997 with the signing of a peace agreement between the government and the UTO, which paved the way for a power-sharing arrangement between the two sides.
In 2004 authorities of Tajikistan arrested a radical Islamic activists in the northern territories of Tajikistan. The terrorist organization member was accused of propagating radical and militant Islamic ideas, he was also accused of recruiting members into the terrorist organization. In 2004, the courts of Tajikistan convicted several Islamic extremist organization members on the grounds of anti-constitutional activities as well as, attempts to topple the government.
In 2010 there was an attack against Tajik security forces in eastern Tajikistan. The Islamic Movement of Tajikistan and The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan were thought to be responsible. However, no official connection between the attack and the Islamic Movement of Tajikistan or its allegiances could be made.