Islamic Movement of Central Asia - Definition

The Islamic Movement of Central Asia (IMCA) is an armed militia that wants to turn Central Asia into a theocracy.

The movement is allegedly headed by Tohir Yuldashev, who is also the leader of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, now an arm of the ICMA. The IMCA was formed when other militant groups merged with Yuldashev's.

The group is made of Kyrgyz, Tajik, Uzbek, Chechen and Uighur Xinjiang militants.

The ICMA plans to first establish a theocracy in Uzbekistan, before spilling into Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The group then plans to cover the rest of the region, including the northwest section of the People's Republic of China.

See also: Islamic Terrorism

External links

• Radio Free Europe Article about IMCA (http://www.rferl.org/nca/features/2002/10/08102002142626.asp)
• Moscow alert on IMCA (http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/DI19Ag01.html)