At least five prisoners supporting the Islamic State (ISIS) were killed after they attacked guards with knives and attempted to break out of a jail in Tajikistan.
Nine prisoners, armed with shanks and homemade knives, launched a violent attack on guards at the penal colony located 20 km (12 miles) east of Dushanbe, Tajikistan’s capital. The Justice Ministry has filed reports, saying that the inmates intended to kill the guards and escape.
The ISIS and Jihadi Salafi Connection
A source in Tajik law enforcement, speaking anonymously, confirmed that the prisoners involved had been convicted on charges related to their support for the Islamic State and the Jihadi Salafi movement, both of which are banned in Tajikistan.
At least three prison guards sustained grievous injuries during the attack, and the head of the prison administration was hospitalized in serious condition.
Meanwhile, unverified video footage circulating on Telegram channels are purportedly shows the bodies of the deceased inmates in pools of blood. At least one of the individuals is seen wearing a hat bearing the Islamic State flag, further indicating the group’s involvement.
Central Asia analyst Andrei Serenko reported that the ISIS supporters briefly raised the group’s flag over the prison during the attempted escape. This symbolic act highlights the ideological motivations behind the riot.
As of this time, no group has claimed responsibility for the prison riot. The silence from ISIS raises questions about the level of coordination and planning involved in the attack.
ISIS-K Threat in Central Asia: Khorasan Group’s Continued Attacks
Although the Islamic State militant group was defeated in Syria in 2019, it continues to pose a threat through splinter groups like the Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K). ISIS-K has been linked to several attacks in the region, including a mass shooting at a concert hall near Moscow last year.
Tajikistan, a predominantly Sunni Muslim country with a population of 10 million, is one of the poorest former Soviet republics. Its socio-economic vulnerabilities make it susceptible to the influence of extremist groups.
The Prosecutor’s Office has launched a criminal investigation into the prison riot. Authorities are working to determine the specific circumstances that led to the attack and identify any potential accomplices.
Past Prison Riots in Tajikistan
This is not the first violent prison incident in Tajikistan. In May 2019, 29 prisoners and 3 security guards were killed in a riot at the same penal colony. Prior to that, in 2018, 21 prisoners and two guards died in a prison riot in Khujand. These repeated incidents raise serious concerns about security within Tajikistan’s prison system.
