Prof. Khurshid Ahmad
More than fifty thousand people have been killed by the Communist forces-Russian army, the Uzbekistan government forces and local communists.
More than four big towns-Kurgantybe, Uratope, Kulab and Khojand-have been destroyed. All the Muslim houses and property have been looted and razed to the ground. Children’s schools and nurseries have been burnt. More than thirty thousand houses have been set on fire by the Communist forces and the CIS army. The army used tanks, heavy artillery and machine guns against the Muslim women and Children. 50,000 Muslim women, children and elderly people are seiged by the CIS army near Afghanistan border. These people have gathered from the different places of Tajikistan and want to cross the border to seek shelter in Afghanistan. The CIS army neither allows them to return to Tajikistan nor are they allowed to enter Afghanistan.
It is extremely important that Afghan army should exert pressure on the CIS army so that these innocent people can be provided with shelter in Afghanistan, say the Muslim leaders in Doshanbe.
If these fifty thousand Muslims are not provided with food and shelter, they will die in the caning two weeks of hunger and cold. Already many have died.
The Muslims of Central Asia have criticized, in a resolution passed in Shura, the role of Muslim countries and their lack of interest in the affairs of Central Asian Muslims. In fact the Muslims of Central Asia have been left to die and face the cruelty of the communists.
Inspite the signed agreement of ceasefire, the Communists have been still shooting and killing Muslims in Tajikistan.
Houses of about all the Muslim leaders have been burnt and their property has been looted and they are compelled to leave their home towns. The town of Kurgantube has been completely demolished with tanks and other heavy weapons. The Russian army is getting instructions directly from Moscow.
Immediate Measures
- To send fax/telegrams to Russian, Uzbek and Tajek president to stop killing and destroying Muslim property.
- To organise demonstrations throughout the Muslim world in solidarity with Muslims of Tajikistan and ask the UMO to intervene immediately.
- To ask the Afghan leaders to help in releasing 50,000 Muslims near Afghan border-either let them go back to Dushanbe or let them get in Afghanistan.
