DUSHANBE, October 2, 2008, Asia-Plus — We will not allow extremist actions in our society any more and will rip them in the bud, President Emomali Rahmon announced at a meeting with veterans of war and labor in Gharm, administrative center of the Rasht district on October 2, according to presidential press service.
“The contemporary history of Tajikistan shows that certain groups used extremist propaganda and low level of knowledge of our people of Islam for mercenary ends that led to civil war in the country,” said the president, “We should learn from bitter lessons of history and will not allow recurrence of that tragedy, and I, as head of state, promise that we will not allow recurrence of extremist actions in our society and will rip them in the bud”
Speaking at the meeting, the president pointed out a role of religion in modern society and development of it in Tajikistan after the country gained independence, responsibility of clerics before society and the rising generation, the press service said.
In his speech, Rahmon dwelled on a role of Imam Azam Numan Thabit bin Zuta bin Mah, better known by his kunya as Abu Hanifa, (699 — 767 CE / 80 — 148 AH), who was the founder of the Sunni Hanafi school of Islamic jurisprudence, in development of Islam. The president noted that he had signed a decree announcing the year of 2009 as Year of Imam Azam “for the purpose of people being better aware of real Islam, getting rid of movements and groups that are alien to us.”
We will recall that President Emomali Rahmon started a two-day working visit to eastern Tajikistan today. The purpose of the visit is for the president to get acquainted with socioeconomic situation in districts of the Rasht Valley.
Gharm, administrative center of the Rasht district, was the first leg of President Emomali Rahmon’s visit to eastern Tajikistan. During his stay in Gharm, the president got acquainted with the progress of construction of the branch of Tajik State Teachers’ Training University in the district and visited school # 1 in the settlement. Rahmon also visited the farming unit Mazori Sharif in the Nusratullo Makhsoum jamoat. After that he visited the central district hospital.
Tomorrow, Rahmon is scheduled to hold meetings with administrators and residents of Nourobod, Jirgatol, Tavildara and Tojikobod districts.
During the visit to eastern Tajikistan, the president is scheduled to hold meetings with representatives of local intelligentsia, clerics, farmers, as well as youth and women’s organizations and visit a number of farming units and enterprises. Emomali Rahmon will also inaugurate a number of social facilities in the region.
Representatives of the government, president’s office and Tajik creative and scientific intelligentsia are accompanying Rahmon on his trip to eastern Tajikistan.
