UK based think tank Quilliam Foundation is the first counter-extremism research institution that has taken on challenging the "ideological underpinnings of terrorism". Ghaffar Hussain is Director of Training and Consultancy at the Quilliam Foundation and the author of book "A Brief History of Islamism". He holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Wales. Mr. Hussain believes Hizbut Tahrir is capable of staging a military coup in Pakistan and ex-Soviet Central Asian states.
Ryskeldi Satke - There has been a backlash over Hizbut Tahrir movement controversy during the last few years with oppressive approach utilized by the governments of the ex-Soviet republics of Central Asia. The religious movement was banned to certain degree of success in the republics but nevertheless it did not cease to exist in the areas of the Ferghana Valley with high rates of unemployment, weak economy, massive corruption and social injustice. In Uzbekistan for instance, Hizbut Tahrir has been seen as a radical organization which is the main reason for a growing number of alleged cases with widespread torture of religious followers in the prisons of the country. On the other hand, it is still unclear where Hizbut Tahrir stands out in contrast to the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan or the Islamic Jihad Union that are certainly fitting the form of extremist organization. Meanwhile in Pakistan, Hizbut Tahrir perceived as a militant Islamic group supported by some circles of the Pakistani military and intelligence according to recent reports by journalist Amir Mir (Asia Times). Your take on Hizbut Tahrir activities in Central Asia and in the Ferghana Valley ? and In your opinion is there a connection between branches of the movement in AfPak and ex-Soviet states of Central Asia?
Ghaffar Hussain - Hizb ut Tahrir (HT) is very well connected internationally in that all branches will have some contact with each other. In Central Asia and Pakistan, HT is working towards a common strategy in terms of seeking to stage a military coup and violent overthrow existing regimes. Unlike the IMU or the IJU, HT does not believe in terrorism and generally has bad relations with other such groups, however, many HT members do go on to join more militant organisations.
Ryskeldi Satke - Your colleague at Quilliam Foundation, Maajid Nawaz says that one of the main principles of the strategy dealing with the extremist groups is to challenge "the narrative" which is the strong hold of the idea that fuels violent radicals of both backgrounds weather Islamic or Far-right nationalist in the West. How do you see a formula of "the narrative" applied to the rise of Hizbut Tahrir in the Ferghana Valley given the fact of counter measures taken by the governments towards the movement already blacklisted in the region not to mention the use of Hizbut Tahrir as a tool against political opponents of the authoritarian regimes?
Ghaffar Hussain - In Central Asia, a unique set of factors have enabled HT to thrive, i.e. lack of strong sense of identity, repression of religion by the Soviets, family and kinships bonds, violent crackdowns by unpopular regimes. However, the narrative still needs to be challenged in that region and others factors also need to be looked at.
Ryskeldi Satke - For years, the governments of the Ferghana Valley have been consistent on the developing threat of the Islamic terrorism in Central Asia. Such opinion was reinstated in Uzbekistan where the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan manages terrorist operations from time to time for the last two decades pulling neighboring states such as Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan into regional security dynamic. Some western experts and analysts view the Islamic threat in Central Asia as "exaggerated" due to the nature of the regimes in the region. Thus, political researchers say that Central Asia's dictatorships deliberately mislead the West to justify cruel domestic policies and the needs of the regimes. Would you comment on that?
Ghaffar Hussain - I would agree that the threat has been exaggerated somewhat, I would also add that all religious movement, even peaceful ones, are deemed extreme in Central Asia. The regimes are only concerned with preserving power and keeping their monopoly on the economy. Extremism has been used as a cover to crush political dissent too, not just in Central Asia but many countries in the Middle East
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