Eleven extremists detained in Kyrgyzstan

BISHKEK, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Eleven active members of the Hizb ut-Tahrir extremist group have been detained in Kyrgyzstan, the press service of the Interior Ministry reported on Monday.

The detainees had lived in the capital city of Bishkek, Chui and Issyk-Kul oblasts. Prohibited literature of extremist content was found during the search of their houses.

In a joint operation by the Interior Ministry and the State Committee for National Security, "one of the leaders of the Hizb ut-Tahrir religious extremist organization, born in 1982, a native of southern Osh oblast, was detained," the report said.

According to the report, more investigations are being carried out. A criminal case was initiated on acquisition, production, storage, distribution and transfer of extremist materials, as well as deliberate use of symbols or attributes of extremist or terrorist organizations.

Hizb ut-Tahrir, an extremist organization seeking to establish the Islamic Caliphate as an Islamic "superstate", is banned throughout Central Asia. Enditem