(International Eurasian Institute for Economic and Political Research) Ahmed Rashid - According to a senior leader of the underground Islamic party Hizb ut-Tahrir, who said he heads activities in an area comprising several thousand cells, the group was formed in Saudi Arabia as a pan-Islamic movement in the 1950s, and at one time had a united plan with the Wahabbi movement. Hizb ut-Tahrir today has tens of thousands of members across Central Asia, and seeks to make a caliphate (Islamic state) which will reunite all the Central Asian states. Hizb ut-Tahrir supported the Taliban and many of its members had fled to Afghanistan to escape the crackdown in Central Asia. "We are very much opposed to the Jews and Israel - we don't want to kill the Jews but they must leave Central Asia."
2003-01-16 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive