Hizb ut Tahrir: Another Wave of Arrests in Kyrgyzstan

News:

Across the entire republic, measures are being carried out to neutralize the organization “Hizb ut-Tahrir,” the press service of the State Committee for National Security reports.

It is reported that on April 4, 2026, on the basis of a decision of the Jalal-Abad City Court dated September 9, 2025, officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic in the area of the Osh market in Bishkek detained B. A. T., born in 1987, a native of the city of Kara-Kul of Jalal-Abad region.

According to the State Committee for National Security, he is suspected of being the leader of a radical cell of the RIO “Hizb ut-Tahrir” in Kara-Kul. He is also suspected of calling on his supporters to create a theocratic state in Kyrgyzstan — a caliphate.

The press release states that, according to the testimonies of previously detained individuals, B. A. T. for a long time held the status of mushrif for Kara-Kul (leader of a city/district cell), was actively engaged in the propaganda of extremist ideology among the population, the distribution of literature, the recruitment of new adherents, and also, on his part, a network was established for collecting funds from rank-and-file members to finance extremist activities.

It is reported that the detainee gave confessional testimony that he indeed was a member of the banned religious organization “Hizb ut-Tahrir” and held the status of mushrif of the jihaz of Kara-Kul. The detainee was placed in the temporary detention facility of the pre-trial detention center of the State Committee for National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic. At present, a комплекс of investigative and operational measures is being carried out to establish other criminal connections.

Comment:

The series of arrests of Muslims in the countries of Central Asia continues, including in Kyrgyzstan. With the coming to power of Sadyr Japarov, pressure on Islamic activists has intensified, and the level of repression has begun to slowly but steadily approach that of Russia. The same is happening with the legislative framework — entire packages of almost verbatim copies of Russian laws are being adopted.

What, then, is the prospect — will the scale of repression increase sooner or later, and will everything follow the “Uzbek scenario”? Apparently, the authorities of Kyrgyzstan have to take into account how deeply Islamic organizations have taken root among the people— and over 35 years of independence, they have become quite firmly entrenched.

However, one should not be overly hopeful — experience in different countries shows that regimes know how to wait — time works in their favor. As a rule, sooner or later they wait for a convenient moment or create it themselves — and clear the space.