The United Tajik Opposition began life as a political/religious organization, made up of people living in exile in Afghanistan who were opposed to the Russian government. However, UTO gained strength and recruits when it turned Islamic fundamentalist and allied itself with the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan and the Movement for Islamic Revival in Tajikistan.
Said Abdullo Nuri assumed control of the United Tajik Opposition in 1994 and remained at the helm until its disbandment in 2003 when 30% of government posts were handed over to the Islamic parties. Said Abdullo Nuri was the leader of the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan, before he took control of the United Tajik Opposition. Today the terrorist is the head of Commission on National Reconciliation. Although UTO no longer exists, Muslims continue to use violence to intimidate their opponents and under different names, Islamist elements continue to terrorize the nation.
Allies: Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan, Movement for Islamic Revival in Tajikistan