Tohir Abdukhalilovich Yuldashev (his name is also transliterated as Tahir Yuldashev, Tohir Yoldoshev, Takhir Yuldashev and other ways) is the founder of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan and the leader Islamic Movement of Central Asia.

He was seen as the "political leader" of the group. When Juma Khodjiev (aka Juma Namangani) allegedly died in Afghanistan, Yuldashev took the entire organization. Unlike Osama bin Laden, Yuldashev is secretive. After the US Invasion of Afghanistan, he hasn't been seen by the public eye. To date, he has vanished into obscurity. A major military engagement in March 2004 involving Afghan, Pakistani and U.S. forces cornered an estimated 400 rebels near the Afghan border of Waziristan, Pakistan. It was thought that the rebels were protecting Yuldashev, but he was neither apprehended, killed or spotted.

When the Soviet Union was starting to lose its grip on Central Asia, Yuldashev founded the Adolat or "Justice" movement. The group, distinguisable by green armbands, beat criminals with sticks, truncheons, and hoses. Other groups of people considered sinful, such as prostitutes, beggars, women dressed immodestly in their view, drunkards, drug addicts, and tobacco vendors, were beaten.

When Uzbek President Islam Karimov started to crack down on Islamist groups, Yuldashev feared for his life and fled the country.

Yuldshev was sentenced to death in absentia by the government of Uzbekistan. Yuldashev may or may not still be living in Afghanistan.

External links

• Sobaka Profile of Yuldashev (http://www.diacritica.com/sobaka/dossier/yuldashev.html)