Furkat_Kasimovich_Yusupov
Furkat Yusupov
Uzbek Islamist terrorist
Furkat Kasimovich Yusupov (born 1980) is a citizen of Uzbekistan who was arrested for, charged with, and tried for terrorism offenses in 2004.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] Yusupov was described as being the leader of a group that executed a series of terrorist bombings on March 28, 2004. Authorities claimed Yusupov was captured with ten homemade bombs. Uzbekistan officials said that Yusupov was a member of Hizb ut-Tahrir. Yusupov was from Toitep a community 40 kilometers from Tashkent.
Accorind to United Press International the series of attacks Yusupov was convicted of playing a role in represented the first use of suicide bombers in Central Asia.[3] They reported Yusupov himself was wearing a suicide belt when he was captured. Kamola, Yusupov's wife, also stood trial, and received a sentence of ten years of hard labor, for sewing 60 suicide belts.
Two of Yusupov's brothers died during the security officials attempts to apprehend the group.[9] Another of his brothers was apprehended and stood trial with him. The Agonist reported that Yusupov stood trial with 14 other individuals on July 26, 2004.[5] Yusupov pleaded guilty. According to The Agonist his confession included:
- "I have helped to send 14 people to be trained in Pakistan and Kazakhstan."
- "We have been trained (on) how to disguise ourselves in big cities, carry out close and distance fighting with police, carry out suicide bombings and prepare explosives."
- "I regret that I have done so much trouble for my family and my country. I am ready to face even the death penalty but I ask you to pardon me."
Yusupov's trial was disrupted by an additional suicide bombing on July 30, 2004.[6] A citizen of Kazakhstan named Avaz Shoyusupov blew himself up in the Prosecutor's office, killing five other individuals, and disrupting the trial. Yusupov identified Shoyusupov as a member of his cell.