"A group of convicts - members of the Hezb-e Tahrir banned religious extremist organization - carried on their unlawful activities by organizing underground cells at prison No 64/29 in Navoi Region (the country’s west - Interfax)," a source in the country’s law-enforcement agencies told Interfax.

"Twelve members of the Hezb-e Tahrir banned organization, who were sentenced to from nine to 13 years in prison, were once more brought to court for continuing their activities in prison," the source said.

He also said that they had already organized a criminal group back in May 2006, which spread the extremist organization’s ideas.

"Instead of repenting of their crimes in prison, the Hezb-e Tahrir members started to take other prisoners under own influence. They spread copies of their leaders’ publications among prisoners to propagate the extremist organization’s ideology," the source noted.

At the same time, the extremists "had managed to keep maximum conspiracy", he said.

"The structure of the underground organization contained two departments, each of which consecutively consisted of subgroups. Lower groups’ task was to recruit prisoners for the organization and to set up cells of three to five people. The illegal organization’s autonomy made it possible to minimize the threat of being uncovered," he said.

"As a rule, members of one cell knew only each other and their mentor, who in turn kept in touch with only one higher member of the organization. Potential Hezb-e Tahrir members had regular training. They also studied books and periodicals of the banned party. Each [candidate] took an oath before joining the organization," the source noted.

"They were trained to infringe the country’s constitutional system, remove legally elected powers, and destroy integrity in the country. One of short-term plans was to organize massive disobedience among prisoners," the source said.

He also drew attention to the fact that the underground organization set up in prison was no different from the ones at large.

During a judicial inquiry, it was established that the Hezb-e Tahrir members recruited about two dozens of prisoners to their organization.

"Under a court ruling, all the organizers of the banned religious extremist organization received additional punishment," the source said.