A group of convicts - members of Hezb-e Tahrir - organized underground cells in prison, a special Uzbek TV programme entitled "Those who broke their promise" said.

Instead of repenting in prison, these members of Hezb-e Tahrir started taking other prisoners under their influence, Shuhrat Kamolov, judge of the Bukhara regional court, said as shown on the TV.

They spread copies of religious publications among inmates "to propagate the extremist organization’s ideology", he said.

The report went on to say that one of the prisoners who fell under their influence was convict Nozimbek Jumayev.

In an interview, Jumayev said: "I served my prison term with Hezb-e Tahrir members in one cell. During that time, they found out that I had interest in learning Islam. So, they started propagating their ideology to recruit me and increase the number of their organization’s members."

In prison, they studied the Islom Nizomi and Al-Va’y religious publications smuggled in from Kyrgyzstan, the broadcast said.

Following his release from prison, Nozimbek Jumayev continued promoting the organization’s ideology at a cement market in central Tashkent Region, the programme said.

In an interview, Akmal Qilichev, captioned as a witness, said: "Jumayev attempted to recruit me into the Hezb-e Tahrir sect. However, I disagreed and resolutely rejected his ideas".

The Bukhara regional court sentenced Nozimbek Jumayev to nine years, judge Shuhrat Kamolov said.