Authorities in Tajikistan have followed through in their mounting campaign against their strongest political opponent by banning the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan.

The statement on August 28 from the Justice Ministry was curt and categorical.

"The Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan is no longer a republican party,” the statement said, according to a report carried by state news agency Khovar.

IRPT now has 10 days to wind down operations.

Authorities argue that legislation regulating the operations of political parties mandate that there be representative offices of a party in most cities and district. The Justivce Ministry said IRPT has suspected its activities in 58 cities and districts, meaning it falls short of requirements.

“So it is that IRPT cannot present itself as an all-republican party and hold its congress,” the statement said.

The writing has for months been on the wall for IRPT, the only Islamic party in Central Asia.

On the evening of August 24, officials swooped in on the party headquarters in Dushanbe on the evening of August 24 and ordered the premises to be sealed. That has forced the party to relocate their base to the home of its leader, Muhiddin Kabiri, who is living in self-imposed exiled in Istanbul.

A branch of the party in the northern Sughd province was closed in July after what the government said were thousands of appeals to the Justice Ministry.

A series of videos posted online featured party members suddenly announcing their intent to resign their membership. IRPT representatives say the members were acting under pressure from regional officials. 

IRPT deputy leader Saidumar Khusaini said at a press conference on August 27 that the party would not be deterred from continuing operations, however.
All the same, IRPT looks unlikely to brave mounting a protest to force the authorities into a climbdown.

“The leadership has no plans yet to hold any demonstrations or protest actions. We still believe in reason, and hope that we are granted the space in which to hold our assembly,” Khusaini said.