15 al-Qaida-linked bombers jailed

Uzbekistan’s Supreme Court today sentenced 15 al-Qaida-linked Islamic militants to up to 18 years in prison for a series of bombings that killed at least 47 people earlier this year.

Furkat Yusupov, 24, and Farkhad Kazakbayev, 22 – described as the most active members of the al-Qaida-linked group Jamoat – were each sentenced to 18 years in prison in Tashkent.

Eleven other men were sentenced to jail terms ranging from 11 to 16 years, while the wives of the two suicide bombers were sentenced to six years and 10 years.

The trial, which opened on July 26, was the first against those accused in a series of March to April explosions and assaults on police that killed 33 militants, 10 police and four bystanders. Other trials are expected with dozens more suspects in custody.

Prosecutors had demanded jail terms of up to 20 years for the militants, all of whom pleaded guilty to charges of religious extremism, terrorism and murder.